Poland and Ukraine celebrate Euro 2012 respect legacy

Thousands of fans and hundreds of journalists received Polish and Ukrainian-language leaflets with information about anti-racist activities run by 'NEVER AGAIN' and the FARE network. An anti-discrimination manifesto was read out on the stadium tannoy shortly before kick-off and a video reminding of the Euro 2012 'Respect Diversity' message was shown on the big screens in front of the 55,000 audience.

Anti-racism week
The match-day activities crowned a whole week of anti-racism events which preceded the game. For example, on 18 March an open pre-match training session of the Polish national team took place at the Polonia Warsaw stadium, held under the slogan 'Let's kick racism out of the stadiums'. A highly visible campaign message was displayed next to the pitch and all the fans - including many school kids - were handed anti-racism materials. The action was organised in cooperation with the new Fan Club of the Polish National Team.

UN International Day Against Racism
On the eve of the game, 21 March - the UN International Day Against Racism - a presentation of 'NEVER AGAIN' and FARE activities was conducted for a group of visiting Ukrainian educators and head-teachers from Kiev, Kharkov and Kamenets. The session was held at the European Youth Meeting House in Warsaw.

Numerous other events, including multi-ethnic football games, discussions, concerts and media broadcasts around the International Day Against Racism took place with the involvement of the 'NEVER AGAIN' Association. On 20 March, 'NEVER AGAIN' presented its activities in the Polish Parliament, at the special invitation of the Parliamentary Committee on National and Ethnic Minorities.

Background information on NEVER AGAIN and FARE partnership
The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is an anti-racist educational and monitoring organization established in Poland in 1996. In 2009, in cooperation with UEFA and the FARE network ‘NEVER AGAIN’ set up the East Europe Monitoring Centre documenting racism and xenophobia across the region. In 2012, it implemented the 'Respect Diversity – Football Unites' social responsibility project accompanying the European Football Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

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