Two editions · Two Olympic Games · One ambition
International Olympic Youth for Peace Forum
From Paris 2024 to Como 2026: young people take hold of the Olympic Truce to turn peace into a concrete project.
The International Olympic Youth for Peace Forum started from a simple idea: peace is not a distant dream, it is something young people can build together. Launched by the Collectif pour un Service Civique Européen during the Paris 2024 Games, it came back for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games with the same thread: dialogue, inclusion and the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence.
2
editions
300+
young leaders gathered in Paris in 2024
10
working groups in Como in 2026
3
days of dialogue, culture and synthesis in 2026
From Paris to Como: two editions, one journey
2024 · Paris
A first edition to lay the foundations
On 3 and 4 May 2024, with the support of the City of Paris and the European Union, more than 300 young people met to debate global tensions, inequality and political violence.
2026 · Como
A second edition to move into action
From 3 to 5 February 2026 in Como, Lombardy, the Forum opened up to a wide public: welcoming the Olympic Flame, a Concert for Peace and a final synthesis led by young people.
2026 edition — Como, 3–5 February
Under the theme “United Youth for Peace: Addressing Global Tensions and Combating Inequality”, this second edition is part of the Gen26 education programme of Milano Cortina 2026, supported by the City of Como, the European Union and ACLI. It unfolded in three linked steps: from symbol to action.
i
The Flame
On 3 February the Olympic Flame reaches Como from Cernobbio. Marinella Linati, the Collectif’s Director for Italy, carries it as an official Torchbearer of the Olympic Truce and dedicates it to the young participants and to children affected by war. The same day, students of the Fausto Melotti art high school present their Peace Flags.
ii
The Concert
On 4 February, a meeting with the Mayor of Como and his team, then the Concert for Peace at the Basilica of Sant’Abbondio: Italian, French, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Slavic and South American music devoted to peace and liberty.
iii
The Final
On 5 February, at the Teatro Sociale in Como, young people present the synthesis of their ten working groups, vote on their recommendations and present them officially to a jury of institutional, civil-society and cultural figures.
In pictures
Ten working groups, ten sets of proposals
- Economic inequalities and global conflicts
- Education to prevent conflict and promote peace
- Climate emergency, conflict and migration
- International law, human rights and sustainable development
- Women, minorities and groups exposed to discrimination
- Social media, fake news and online political violence
- Youth civic engagement
- Sport as a peace mediator
- The human dimension of conflicts
- War in Europe: EU enlargement as a vector for peace
Ideas that came out of the workshops include a European Citizens’ Initiative for a protection status for climate-displaced persons, a European fund for community-led human rights education, an AI-based fact-checking tool, video archives of testimonies from conflict zones, and a European Peace Walk.
2024 edition — Paris, 3–4 May
The first edition took place during the Paris 2024 Olympic period, with the support of the City of Paris and the European Union. Its theme: “United Youth for Peace: Responding to Global Tensions and Combating Extremism and Political Violence”.
Objectives
- Foster intercultural and interfaith dialogue among young people from crisis areas
- Promote mutual understanding and respect for human rights
- Identify peace challenges and propose innovative solutions
- Contribute to institutions and encourage civic engagement
- Build a global network of young peace leaders
- Integrate environmental concerns and socially just growth
The eight themes
- Economic inequality and conflict
- Education, conflict prevention and peace
- Climate, conflict and migration
- International law, human rights, sustainable development
- Women, minorities and discriminated groups
- Social media, hate speech and disinformation
- Youth civic engagement
- Sport as a peace mediator
What the 2024 edition produced
300+
young leaders
30
NGOs involved
50+
recommendations
12
concrete projects
Results include the idea of a green European civic service, recognition of a climate-refugee status, educational workshops on digital literacy and hate speech, and a digital observatory against discrimination. The Forum also opened a direct dialogue between young people and diplomatic representatives.
The thread between the two editions
Each edition feeds the next. The protection status for climate-displaced persons, raised in Paris in 2024, became in Como in 2026 a European Citizens’ Initiative aiming at one million signatures. The engagement and mobility ideas put forward by young people now feed into our other projects.
Next step: the European Peace Walk, proposed by the sport working group in Como, is now the subject of a new CERV project proposal dedicated to peace walks.
Partners and supporters
2026 edition
- Collectif pour un Service Civique Européen (initiator)
- Gen26 Education Programme · Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation
- City of Como · European Union
- ACLI · US ACLI Lombardia · ANCI Lombardia
- Azalea Società Cooperativa Sociale · European Youth Press
2024 edition
- Collectif pour un Service Civique Européen · Europa Cooperation
- City of Paris · European Union · European Parliament
- OFAJ · Hippocrène Foundation · French National Commission for UNESCO
- 16th arrondissement town hall · Maison de l’Italie · Women7
- Air France
Supporters of the first edition
Co-funded by the European Union
Stay in the movement
Did you take part in one of the two editions, or do you want to help build what comes next? Follow our news and join the community of young people making peace a project.