Peace and Sport will spread awareness of the power of sport for peace during the Tour de France, on Saturday, July 7, in Noirmoutier, France. HSH Prince Albert, Patron of Peace and Sport, together with Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, and Champion for Peace Philippe Gilbert will raise a #WhiteCard, the symbol of the peace-through-sport-movement.

To mark his birthday on July 5, the Monaco-based racing cyclist has also seized the opportunity to raise funds for the Peace and Sport Friendship Games, which will take place from August 17 to 19 in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Friendship Games bring together every year around 300 children from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and represent a unique opportunity for the youngsters to forge friendships and dialogue.

Philippe Gilbert said: “I dedicate my fame and my birthday to raise awareness to a cause that is dear to me: the use of sport as a tool for development and peace. I count on my supporters to contribute to the ninth edition of the Friendship Games, organised by Peace and Sport.”

Joël Bouzou said: “Athletes are role models and they have the chance to use great sporting events to raise awareness of sport for development and peace. Philippe’s initiative is an example for all of us and I invite athletes to take such fundraising actions and to join our Champions for Peace club.”

Every year, Peace and Sport celebrates peace through sport at the Tour de France. In previous years, champion Peter Sagan and Chris Froome joined forces to promote social change through sport.

Peace and Sport is an international, neutral and independent organisation based in Monaco which promotes peace using the power of sport. Founded in 2007 by Modern Pentathlon Olympic Medallist and World Champion Joël Bouzou, Peace and Sport enjoys the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.