Pelé, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is regarded as one of the greatest football players in history. Pelé, who was born in Brazil in 1940, began his professional career as a teenager and quickly rose to prominence with his club team, Santos FC, and the Brazilian national team. Throughout his career, Pelé received numerous honours and awards, including three FIFA World Cups with the Brazilian national team. However, Pelé's influence extends far beyond his football achievements. Throughout his career, Pelé has used his notoriety and influence to promote sports as a means of promoting global understanding and peace. However, Pelé's influence extends far beyond his football achievements. Throughout his career, Pelé has used his notoriety and influence to promote sports as a means of promoting global understanding and peace. Pelé has contributed to global peace through sports in part by promoting diplomacy and international relations through his platform. In the 1970s, Pelé was instrumental in the so-called "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" between the United States and China, using his visit to China as a football player to help establish diplomatic ties between the two nations (International Table Tennis Federation, 2021). In 2002, Pelé played a pivotal role in the organisation of the inaugural World Cup in South Korea and Japan. As a FIFA goodwill ambassador, Pelé played a crucial role in reconciling two countries with a tumultuous history and promoting the tournament as a symbol of peace and unity (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, 2021). Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, invited Pelé to visit the country in 2013 to promote sports as a means of improving relations between the two nations (BBC, 2013). While the visit was met with some criticism, Pelé saw it as an opportunity to use sports as a diplomatic tool and to promote understanding between the two countries (BBC, 2013). Additionally, Pelé has used his influence to promote sports as a means of social and cultural development. In the 1980s, he established the Pelé Sports Academy, a non-profit organisation that uses football to promote social and educational development in underserved communities across the globe (Pelé Sports Academy, 2021). Through the Academy, Pelé has enabled young people to participate in soccer programmes and acquire valuable life skills, such as leadership and teamwork. In addition to his work with the Pelé Sports Academy, Pelé has utilised his platform to advocate for education and raise awareness about issues such as poverty and environmental sustainability. In 2010, Pelé was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), where he has advocated for the rights of children and the value of education (UNICEF, 2021). Organisations around the world have recognised and celebrated Pelé's contributions to world peace through sports. In recognition of his contributions to international relations through sports, Pelé was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1995 and received Brazil's highest diplomatic honour, the Order of the Rio Branco, in 1998 (Pelé Sports Academy, 2021). Pelé was appointed to the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee in 2015, where he has worked to promote the role of athletes in the Olympic Movement and to use sports as a tool to promote peace and understanding (International Olympic Committee, 2021). Additionally, Pelé has utilised his influence to promote sports as a tool for social change and to combat discrimination and inequality. Pelé was appointed to the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee in 2015, where he has worked to promote the role of athletes in the Olympic Movement and to use sports as a tool to promote peace and understanding (International Olympic Committee, 2021). In 2016, he took part in the "Soccer for Social Change" campaign, which aimed to use soccer to promote gender equality and empower women and girls worldwide (United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, 2021). In conclusion, Pelé is a sports icon who has leveraged his fame and influence to promote sports as a means of fostering global peace and understanding. Pelé has made a significant contribution to the cause of global peace through his work with organisations such as the Pelé Sports Academy and UNICEF, as well as his efforts to promote diplomacy and social and cultural development.
Comments (0)