PARIS - The Sports for Peace Champions Gala at the Paris Olympics 2024 celebrated athletic excellence, global peace, and honoured remarkable individuals as well as the greatest athletes of all time for their social work. Already in 2012 Sports for Peace had hosted the global farewell of Muhammad Ali at the London Olympics and honoured him.

The evening was kicked off by Jaka Bizilj, Chairman of Sports for Peace and Cinema for Peace, David Lappartient, the President of the National Olympic Committee of France, five-time Olympic Gold Medalist Nadia Comăneci, and renowned actress and Peace Ambassador Sharon Stone.

Bizilj highlighted the IOC's evolution in embracing new sports like surfing, skateboarding, and breakdancing, noting the fantastic atmosphere at the Paris 2024 venues. He underscored the Olympic movement's role as a beacon of peace amidst ongoing global conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing strife in the Middle East - and asked the many present IOC members to increase its influence on war leading parties to stop the conflicts.

Nadia Comăneci, a symbol of Olympic excellence with the first “perfect 10” in history, reflected on her own journey from an oppressive Ceausescu regime to freedom in 1989 before the fall of the wall. She urged the audience to remember the values of freedom and resilience, advocating for the well-being of those suffering from conflict and displacement.

Sharon Stone celebrated the Olympic Games as a festival of peace and unity. Her call for self-empowerment and realising inner greatness resonated deeply, encouraging everyone to strive for peace and excellence.

The gala honoured several remarkable heroes. The greatest diver of all time and four-time Olympic champion Greg Louganis, lauded Simon Keith, a former professional soccer player and organ transplant recipient who lives and trains with his third heart. Keith's foundation supports families of young organ transplant recipients and promotes organ donation - saving tens of thousands of lives over the years.

The gala featured a surprise appearance by Mike Powell, the world record holder in the long jump and known for his historic rivalry with Carl Lewis - making peace with each other and expressing their hope that young athletes will follow and surpass their legendary and historic jumps of 8.91 and 8.95 m in Tokyo in 1991 in a competition which is considered the greatest duel of athletics ever.

The evening celebrated on stage Ukrainian athletes and Afghan female athletes who defy restrictions imposed by the Taliban and included an interview with Palestinian swimmer Valerie Tarazi, who made her Olympic debut despite not a single Olympic size swimming pool existing anymore on Palestinian territory. Ukrainian Olympic diver, 18-year-old Oleksii Sereda could not believe to stand on stage with his idol Greg Louganis and stated: " We just want peace, that's it. Ukrainians want peace."

The Sports for Peace Award was presented to Masomah Ali Zada, the head of the IOC Refugee Team, Carl Lewis and Michael Phelps. Casey Affleck, Matt Damon and Sharon Stone lauded Phelps and Lewis for their achievements and philanthropic work through their foundations. Lewis’s legacy extends beyond his athletic prowess, with his foundation supporting various charitable causes. Sharon Stone described how the outside world attacked Phelps in 2004, but how he rose from depression with the help of others to become the most successful Olympian of all time - and created afterwards help programs with apps and webpages for men with mental health issues. Casey Affleck and Damon stated that Lewis and Phelps have become part of our modern culture, reaching billions of citizens around the world.

Phelps spoke on stage about how he overcame his challenges and the work of the Michael Phelps Foundation, illustrating his impact both in and out of the pool. He encouraged the new generation of swimmers: "There’s a kid out there, or a human who's not afraid to dream, and not afraid to literally bust through walls if they have to. Records are made to be broken, I know that. I hope there's a kid out there that's dreaming as big as I dreamt my whole entire life, and if he wants to go out there and break 23 goals I'll be sitting here watching him. I know how hard it is, and over four Olympics it took a lot of work."

Carl Lewis is considered with nine gold medals “the King of Athletes”, Michael Phelps with 23 gold medals the most successful Olympian of all time.

The gala concluded with a special performance by Paul Engemann, with the Olympic song of the last Olympic Games in Los Angeles 1984, who will also host the next Olympic Games 2028 - “Reach Out for the Medal”.

A world record of its own: 3 athletes on stage with 36 Olympic Gold medals. Laudation speakers and presenters Greg Louganis and Sharon Stone, Michael Phelps and Carl Lewis.

DJ Settles Dispute in Beach Volleyball Final with John Lennon Song: The players grin, the fans wave their arms in the air, and sing along loudly. Before, Canadian Brandie Wilkerson and Brazilian Ana Patrícia Ramos got into a heated exchange at the net. Their respective partners Melissa Humana-Paredes and Duda rushed in and the referee had to stand between the duos.

“The Olympic Games are about peace, but Russia didn’t stop, and during these Games, there were massive attacks on Ukrainian cities.” Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Ukrainian Olympic champion in high jump.

Click here to watch the trailer of "The Weight of Gold", directed by Brett Rapkin.

Click here to watch the trailer of the film "Cool Runnings", directed by Jon Turteltaub.

“Sports for Peace” at Paris Olympics 2024 Honors the Greatest: Carl Lewis & Michael Phelps