The 12th Peace and Sport International Forum will open tomorrow in the One Monte-Carlo conference centre in the heart of the Principality, and will run for three days.

This edition will mark the 10th anniversary of the Champions for Peace club, paying tribute to 10 years of commitment of more than 100 high-level athletes.

World Taekwondo President Dr Chungwon Choue has been announced as a keynote speaker.

The four nominees are contesting the "Champion of the Year" category, honouring a sportsperson who has headed a significant and sustainable sports initiative for peaceful change.

Joël Bouzou, President and founder of Peace and Sport. started the Peace and Sport Awards to showcase projects representative of sport's ability to reconcile divided or opposed communities.

South Africa's Rugby World Cup winner Kolisi is the first black captain in the Springboks' 126-year history.

From a background of hunger and deprivation in an Eastern Cape township, he has become a national hero.

He encourages companies and individuals to join him in giving South African youth access to the skills they need for a successful future.

Hundreds of under-resourced schools will be modernised thanks to this national programme.

Lloyd, vice-captain of the United States women's football team, has FIFA Women's World Cup winners medals from 2015 and 2019, and won Olympic Games gold in 2008 and 2012.

She advocates for gender equality and has been a key player in the battle for pay parity.

Croatian tennis player Čilić, who won the 2014 US Open title, has set up a foundation entitled "Game Set Croatia", which brings together the country's greatest athletes to emphasise the notion that all children deserve equal opportunities to develop and reach their full potential.

This unique event showcases tennis, while raising funds to bring adequate sports facilities to Croatia's most under-served communities.

Abidal has had a legendary football career with Barcelona, earning 18 titles and playing for France in the 2006 World Cup final defeat to Italy.

In 2011, he was diagnosed with a liver tumour, but returned to top-flight football, playing for Monaco and Olympiakos before returning to Barcelona as director of football in 2018.

Through the Eric Abidal Foundation he has led projects such as "Robot Pol" and "Here to Change", improving the lives of other people and conveying values such as self-improvement, willpower, effort, generosity and teamwork.

Former Chelsea player Didier Drogba, vice-president of Peace and Sport, said: "It is very exciting to have such high-profile nominations in the 'Champion of the Year' category.

"With Joël Bouzou, we are convinced that athletes are role models and a source of inspiration for young people around the world.

"It is important to reward them for their social commitment in order to show that sport goes beyond sporting performances and plays a genuine role in serving society."

The winner will be selected by Peace and Sport's Champions for Peace, and the prize will be presented by the 2018 Award winner: Champion for Peace and football world champion Blaise Matuidi.

The Peace and Sport Awards ceremony will be held on December 12 in the Opéra Garnier, hosted by French sports journalist Anne-Laure Bonnet.