Football for Development Conference tackles World Cup 2010 legacy

The conference, lasting only 1.5 days, ensured the most was made of the limited time available. As a result, the key stakeholders present were gently directed towards presenting their own work in light of the opportunities as well as risks associated with the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Over 80 participants, including various representatives from the European football family as well as researchers, practitioners and dignitaries, contributed their knowledge and perspectives.

Organisations represented
Most of the organisations present were football-related including European organisations, dealing with various social issues including anti-racism, integration and social inclusion.

Various representatives from African organisations were present including human rights organisations and football-related organisations, including academies and associations.

A number of Sport & Development organisations were present at the conference including MYSA, Swiss Academy for Development, Search and Groom, SCORT Foundation, Streetfootballworld, VIDC (who organised the conference), Mifalot and a number of others. Representatives from the UN family and national governments were also present.

The Discussion
A representative of the South African Embassy in Vienna contributed to the first plenary, outlining the initiatives currently ongoing in South Africa to ensure the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is long-term.

He cited the Football for Hope ’20 centres in 2010’ initiative and stated that South Africa is ‘more than ready for the event’.

Poul Hansen of the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) was present to outline what the role of the UN is in Sport for Development and Peace.

He touched on the partnership between FIFA and UNICEF in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and informed the participants that the UNOSDP and the IOC were working together at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.

The Workshops
A number of workshops were held throughout the afternoon on the first day of the conference covering diverse themes such as:

• Development Education: targeting schools and young people
• Campaigning and the media: exploring the potential of the first World Cup in Africa for raising awareness on Sport & Development
• Tackling gender inequality and raising gender awareness through Sport & Development initiatives
• Sports and Conflict Resolution

An Action Plan was developed to bring out the concrete suggestions put forward in the day’s discussion. This will be finalised and available on the Platform in the coming days.

Bringing in the Platform
Space was allocated in a two-session workshop to discuss the role the media could play in covering Sport & Development, including the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Fundamental questions were raised on how best to reach out to the media and what sort of information the media would require to cover such issues.

Suggestions put forward included common ones such as using the image of high-profile sports celebrities to spear-head various development-through-football initiatives.

The Platform was presented as a tool the media could use as a source of information.