On October 15th, the United Nations in Cyprus through the Office of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG) hosted a unique event at the Chief of Mission Residence in Nicosia, a symbolic place in the Buffer Zone where peace talks have been held throughout the years. 

For the first time, the island was treated to a screening of Winds of Change, a documentary chronicling the historic circumnavigation of Cyprus by a group of young Greek and Turkish Cypriots in 2023. The documentary, which debuted at the Olympic Games in Paris in August 2024, celebrates the remarkable power of sport to unite communities across divides. 

In his opening remarks, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Deputy Special Adviser (DSASG) Colin Stewart welcomed guests, expressing gratitude to the French Embassy for their support and acknowledging the diverse group of attendees—crew members, their families, civil society representatives, and diplomats. “Today’s event is about more than just a film,” he noted. “It’s about celebrating courage, determination, and the ability of sport to break down barriers and build bridges.” 

The Winds of Change initiative began as a bold idea. Sophia Papamichalopoulos, the team’s founder, was determined to show that the island’s divided communities could come together through a shared passion: sailing. Over the course of a year, the crew, made up of young Cypriots from both communities, took on the extraordinary challenge of circumnavigating the island. Many of these crew members had never interacted with members of the other community before. The journey not only tested their endurance but also demonstrated that sport can create safe spaces for dialogue, understanding, and trust. 

The documentary captures how sailing allowed the crew to connect and collaborate in ways that transcended the island’s longstanding political divisions. Stewart emphasized that sport, in all its forms, has the power to bring people closer, regardless of their views or backgrounds. “Sport creates moments of interaction, and those moments can inspire meaningful change,” he said. 

The United Nations has long recognized the power of sport as a tool for peacebuilding. Every year, April 6th is celebrated as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.  

In Cyprus, OSASG (also known as the Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission) has helped raise the visibility of sport as a tool for fostering dialogue and interactions, also facilitating the first public discussion around the nascent Winds of Change initiative in 2022.

The Secretary-General has highlighted the role of sport in fostering reconciliation, even suggesting the creation of a dedicated technical committee on sport in Cyprus [SG Report July 2024]. Other sport programs on the island have shown that sport can indeed change lives. It is foreseen that more sport-based activities will be organized in the coming months, including around running. Cypriot youth, as active participants in these initiatives, are proving to be changemakers for the future. 

The evening concluded with a reception, where guests continued the conversation sparked by the documentary, stressing how dialogue and engagement at the grassroots level are critical. Stewart concluded, “Sport may not solve all problems, but it can spark change. Every race, game, and moment of teamwork lays the foundation for trust and peace. Let us continue to harness the power of sport for a brighter, more peaceful future in Cyprus and beyond.”