Swim 02, Nagasaki Japan for UN’s Year of Peace 1986 – Jan 6

Filed under asia-oceana | Sport & Athletics | UN Anniversaries

During 1986, four members of the Peace Meditation group, staff members of the United Nations Secretariat and UNICEF, undertook a number of “Swims for Peace” to draw attention to the United Nations International Year of Peace.

Their first swim was on 1 January in the frigid waters off Hiroshima, Japan. Each swam two kilometres around the sacred Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island.

Because of the overwhelming response of the Japanese people and the media, and the encouragement of their colleagues, they swam again Five days later on 6 January.

This time in Nagasaki Harbour.

The City Hall supported the swim and the Director of the Peace Museum was on hand for the event.

For More information and links to  other swims see:  35 locations for UN IYP 1986

Members of a 400-year-old cold-water swim club built a big bonfire to keep us warm on land, and some children entered the water for the start and finish bearing signs with messages of world peace. As in Hiroshima, the media were very enthusiastic, with four television stations and nine newspaper and radio reporters covering the event and requesting interviews.

Below are some of the Media coverage of the event in Nagasaki

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On returning to UN Headquarters in NY, they were encouraged by a letter of appreciation from the Office of the Secretary-General commending the “intrepid endeavors” and “admirable commitment, which you and your colleagues in the Meditation Group share for the principles of the United Nations Organization and its International Year of Peace,”

The swimmers then traveled to a total of 35 sites around the globe—all at their own expense—to swim for peace. The enthusiastic response, reflected in the over 50 newspaper articles that covered the swims, inspired them to continue in 1987. For More information and links to  other swims see:  35 locations for UN IYP 1986