Unity in diversity at British High Commission Games
Ishara JAYAWARDANE
Celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games, weeks
away, the British High Commission in Colombo hosted The British High
Commission Games at Westminster House on Friday.
The event brought alive the fierce competitive spirit of the Olympics
and its message of unity in diversity.
Those gathered in the Westminster House garden included disabled
sportsmen and women from Colombo and Vavuniya; disabled soldiers and
former LTTE members; contenders for the London 2012 Paralympics and
Olympics; officials from the Sports Ministry; members of the National
Olympic and Paralympic Committees; and British High Commission staff.
I am glad to see such a diverse gathering of sportsmen and
sportswomen and supporters.This signifies one of the most remarkable
qualities of sports it brings people together and gives them a common
language people from all walks of life with different stories to tell.
Sports help people move beyond their differences, British High
Commissioner to Sri Lanka John Rankin said.
It helps people understand each others perspectives; it builds self
worth and team spirit, he said.
The High Commissioner said sports help those who were once in
conflict with each other to look beyond what once divided them and focus
on what now unites them.
This is the very essence of peace that Sri Lanka and many other
nations today are working towards. The United Kingdom will continue to
support Sri Lanka in its efforts to build a sustainable peace a peace
that accepts and embraces people of different backgrounds, just like the
Olympic and Paralympic spirit. |
