About Us

We’re a tourism organization that harnesses the power of sport to foster genuine cross-cultural engagement between otherwise distant communities. Our team identifies sports organizations in unusual destinations that face unique barriers to growth in their communities due to a variety of factors, including a lack of equipment, opponents, and expertise. We then work together with these communities to organize an exchange with international sports enthusiasts (such as yourself) and develop a plan to support the sport’s growth locally.

Modern society often fails to fully realize the true potential of sports. It’s not that we can’t thrive according to the rules of the game – records are broken daily. Rather, we tend to focus on a small subset of benefits while ignoring the rest. Most people recognize sports as a great way to have fun, stay in shape and develop life skills such as teamwork. But when we proclaim sport to be a cost-effective tool for achieving humanitarian and development outcomes, we get a lot of blank stares. The truth is, it’s settled science. Sport has a lengthy history of succeeding where traditional approaches repeatedly failed.

One of the earliest recognized examples of Sport for Development and Peace is the Olympic Truce. Way back in the days of Ancient Greece, Iphitos, King of Ellis was intent on ending the vicious cycle of violence that plagued the region at the time. He decided to consult the Oracle of Delphi who advised him that a peaceful sporting competition was the best way forward. With the support of Cleisthenes of Pisa and Lycurgus of Sparta, they signed a truce known as “Ekecheira”, which promised safe passage for athletes and their families to compete in a sporting event every four years. The first of these events would be held in 776 BC, and is recognized as the birth of the Olympic Movement.

Since then, sport has earned a reputation as a cost-effective tool for achieving many of society’s peace and development objectives. Modern examples include Ping Pong Diplomacy, the Unified Korean Women’s Hockey Team at the Pyeongchang Olympics, and even our own in-house efforts to engage the DPRK on the issue of disability.

International institutions and actors are increasingly recognizing the potential of sport for development and peace, and are taking steps to integrate its strategies into their programs. One of the biggest proponents is the United Nations, which has dedicated April 6th as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Furthermore, through UNGA Resolution 70/4, the United Nations actively encourages its Member States to utilize sports as a means of achieving societal objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Since the Friendship League was founded in March of 2016, we’ve been constantly surprised by the opportunities sport has created and the impact it has allowed us to make on communities. But overtime, one thing has also become crystal clear – it’s not just sport that has these capabilities. Rather, we believe that any shared passion can do it to! So whether it be through sport or another activity, we will uphold the spirit of Iphitos as we travel the world in search of adventure. We hope to have you join us!