Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi

By Olawale Ajimotokan

The celebration of the journey of Olympic Touch into London has propped up call for the application of truce and peace in the resolution of conflict around the world in line with the Olympic spirit.

The Olympic touch began its 8,000 miles journey around the United Kingdom last Friday as part of the activities to promote London 2012.

The British High Commission, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), jointly organized an event in Abuja to mark the Touch arrival with emphasis on peace and truce.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr Giles Lever said that sport has the power to bring people together from different countries, cultures and backgrounds without prejudice.

Lever said that the UK emphasizes on the application of local solution to local problem in the sense that peace building and conflict prevention require the involvement of local communities most affected.

The occasion’s keynote address was delivered by the Director General of National Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Joseph Golwa.

Golwa stressed on the essence of the Olympic touch as a symbol of peace and unity. He also noted that sports is a bridge that fosters lasting relations among nations.

Chairman Senate Committee on Sports Adamu Gumba, pleaded that sportsmen who will be representing Nigeria at London 2012 should be supported so that Nigeria can perform maximally at the games and in the process restore the country’s lost glory.

A drama sketch, which theme centred on peace and unity, was performed by students of Government Secondary School, Nyanya, Abuja, while a pupil of the same school, Miss Anuoluwa Adesina, recited a poem on peace.