UEFA celebrating diversity at Euro 2012

Final preparations are taking place, as the countdown to the European Football Championships enters the final week. Find out how UEFA and the FARE network are celebrating diversity.

UEFA and the FARE network are busy finalising activities for the EURO 2012 championships in Poland and Ukraine. The two have been working together on the ‘Respect Diversity – Football Unites’ programme.

Respect Diversity – Football Unites
The initiative will include in-game monitoring, promotion of anti-discrimination messages at every game and a specific protocol on reporting incidents of discrimination, with disciplinary sanctions for the offenders.

Additionally, the campaign will see the four captains in the semi-final spread messages of diversity.

UEFA’s Respect campaign
The Respect campaign is UEFA’s social responsibility initiative, which aims to “support local communities, tackle social issues and work towards unity across gender, race, religion and ability”.

The campaign highlights UEFA’s commitment to raise awareness and combat societal issues as well as promoting intercultural dialogue between fans.

Find out more about UEFA’s Respect campaign

FARE network
The activities in Poland and Ukraine during the Euro 2012 championships represent the culmination of a three year programme, which aims to tackle discrimination at games.

A FARE network spokesperson stated “the activities in Poland and Ukraine are the culmination of a three-year programme to develop a hub in the region with a focus on education and engagement”

Promoting dialogue and awareness
Rafal Pankowski from the Warsaw-based Never Again Association and co-ordinator of the FARE programme for UEFA EURO 2012, stated “this is the first major football event to be held in Eastern Europe in the modern era and it is one that we have been anticipating for a long time."

He went onto state “Our biggest achievement has been to start a dialogue and to raise difficult issues, a process that will contribute to the social development of both our countries. We have a close working relationship with UEFA and are proud to be implementing partners of the Respect Diversity – Football Unites campaign.”