Bob's current project, One World 2011, is slated to reprise the success of 1990's Goodwill Games. Its mission is to provide for U.S.-Mideast relations what the event did then for U.S.-Soviet relations.
The Goodwill Games is often credited with being a key factor in the end of the Cold War. Ted Turner has said, "A lot of things ended the Cold War. A lot of straws rode on that camel's back. Who is to say which one finally broke it?
"The Games occurred at a very significant point in U.S.-Soviet history and opened a dialogue with the Soviets that would not have occurred without the Games. If nothing else, the Games showed the kind of cooperation that could exist between the two countries."
U.S. relations with nations and people of the Middle East could benefit greatly from this model of cooperation and dialogue.
Turbulent events post-9/11 inflated the gap between Arab/Muslim worlds and America. The word "terrorist" has become a political synonym among many populations for "Muslim" and "Arab." Xenophobic reactions in the U.S. and elsewhere have paralleled the "Red Scare" of the Cold War era-this time targeting Muslims, Arabs, and persons of Arab descent.
It is more urgent than ever for people worldwide to increase tolerance and understanding for other cultures, religions and ways of life-to break free of historical conflicts and ideological prejudices. American global credibility is vital, particularly in the Middle East and the Gulf. Likewise, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and the Gulf regions' integrity is significant globally. The iron wall of negative stereotypes between both regions must be torn down in order to achieve global security and a sound economy.
In order to rebuild trust and partnerships worldwide, establish security, and stimulate a prosperous economy, courageous changes must be initiated. The vision of One World 2011 is to create an international and interfaith dialogue, building a lasting avenue of communication and world unity.
Thanks to the 1990 Games, we have a model of shared international effort that can achieve such an expansion of goodwill, openness, and connections between cultures, challenging and eradicating the "us" versus "them" mentality.
During the height of the Cold War, the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and the Soviet Union boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. This inflamed an already tense and polarized world, hampered international diplomacy, and handicapped intercultural communication--an environment similar to our post-9/11 world.
In a bold and historic move, Ted Turner founded the Goodwill Games in an effort to restore this important avenue of international cooperation and peaceful relations. The Games aimed to tear down the Iron Curtain through the power of sports, the energy of youth, and the determination of ordinary people.
The Goodwill Games was comprised of a series of worldwide athletic competitions, commemorating world-class athletes from 50 countries, and hosting world records through a series of international athletic competitions. It also facilitated multi-national youth exchanges, home-stays with American and Soviet families, and multicultural events to establish common ground between the people of the Soviet Union and the U.S.
The long list of notable achievements and outcomes associated with the Goodwill Games includes:
The Games brought together, for the first time, unprecedented numbers of Americans and Soviets in Moscow in 1986 and in Seattle in 1990. It brought together thousands of historic exchanges of youth, culture, medicine, science and knowledge. It facilitated the building of mutual friendships and business partnerships.
In this spirit and based on this model, One World 2011 will hold a series of multi-national events bringing together MENA (the Middle East and North Africa), the Gulf States, and the United States.
The event will host youth exchanges and home-stays, athletic contests, multicultural performances and exhibitions, science and social entrepreneurship, and public and private international partnerships. The event will foster employment and significant positive economic impact. This series will hold its first international event in Seattle and the Puget Sound Area in the summer of 2011.
President Barack Obama stated on December 9, 2008, "I think we've got a unique opportunity to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular.'' This 2011 multi-national event endorses the world's quest and the new administration's pledge for hope and change, world peace, and economic prosperity.