South Africa to host world's first Peace Conference

South Africa will host the world's first Peace Conference in Johannesburg next month which will focus on racism, xenophobia and the power of soccer in generating peace and harmony. The South African Peace Conference is an initiative of the 2010 Local Organising Committee.

In a statement issued on Wednesday Conference chief patron and LOC chairman Irvin Khoza, said: "We have a huge responsibility to leave a legacy after the World Cup, and with this conference I hope we can focus and stress what we need to do in South Africa and in Africa to keep a country and continent in peace and harmony.”

"Soccer has played a huge role in bringing unity to South Africa and now more than ever we must show our responsibility as a nation, as a soccer family, and as a host of the World Cup.”

“The event must be the most peaceful World Cup in its history with people from all nations inter-mingling in harmony as guests of South Africa," Khoza added.

The conference has been endorsed by the Norwegian Nobel Peace Committee and will see Nobel laureates from each continent gather in South Africa for their first official visit to an event outside Norway. Confirmed participants so far include the Dalai Lama, and Martti Ahtisaari (2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner) as well as South Africa's three Peace Laureates; Archbishop Emeritus Tutu, Nelson Mandela and F.W De Klerk.  

The conference gala dinner will be co-hosted by South African actress and newly appointed United Nations Peace Ambassador Charlize Theron, as well as actor Morgan Freeman, who plays Nelson Mandela in an upcoming movie about the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

"We are honoured and privileged to host an event of this magnitude and calibre of people involved," Khoza said.

Laureates attending the conference will conclude their visit by attending the Nelson Mandela Challenge match at the re-opening of the Royal Bafokeng Stadium where Bafana Bafana will host Norway.

The South African Peace Conference will take place on the 27th of March 2008 at Constitution Hill.

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