“The growth of sports in society and its consequences,” “Sport and the ambition to succeed and get rich,” “The educational value of the sport models offered by the world today,” “Is happiness found in practicing, or in achieving success in sports?” These issues and concerns of the sports’ world formed the nucleus of discussion in an international Congress entitled ‘Sport and Joy: joy runs together with true sport.’ The event was held in conjunction with the United Nations International Year of Sport and Physical Education. It was promoted by Sportmeet for a United World, which aims at initiating a dialogue with the world of sports regarding the ties that link physical activity, sport and happiness – quite a challenging correlation in our times, when the experience of lasting personal and collective happiness seems to be an illusion.

Experts, educators and people involved in the sports’ world helped define the theme of sport and joy and its sociological, economic, educational and psychological implications.

What is Sportmeet all about? It is a worldwide network of people involved in the field of sports, who aim to help build a more united world precisely through sports activities. Sportmeet is one of the expressions of the Focolare Movement. Forthcoming appointments October 9, 2005: Sportmeet will collaborate with Run4Unity, a planetary relay race promoted by the Young for Unity of the Focolare Movement. The 24-hour race for peace is currently being organized in 10 cities around the world (www.run4unity.org).