Policy Advocacy is More Than a Spectator Sport in Eastern Europe: How one Czech NGO is Engaging Stakeholders to Shape Sport for Development

So far, in the Czech Republic no one has taken on the responsibility to effectively coordinate this effort. This may change after a discussion held on May 15th in Prague, where those who work specifically in this field in the Czech Republic came together for the first time to make a plan. Fair Play Point and the University Palacky of Olomouc brought together experts and Sport for Development practitioners from the Ministry of Education, NGOs, academia, Decathlon and the management of Prague's Slavia Football Club to strategise.

The discussion has brought to light diverse perspectives on the wider social role of sport. 

“We are convinced the field can bring further value to our society and to the development of young people,” says Ansley Hofmann, of Fair Play Point, who hosted the meeting.

In the Czech Republic, organisations using sport as a tool for positive social change too often find themselves on the bench, rarely called up to play and contribute on the field. This is in part due to lack of support from governing bodies, but more significantly the lack of awareness about the evidence in support of sport for development interventions. Government, local authorities, schools and sports clubs widely acknowledge the greater role of sport in society, but remain on the sidelines when it comes to putting words into action to implement programmes. In this panel discussion Fair Play Point and the University Palacky of Olomouc are attempting to take control by steering stakeholders toward understanding and practical change.

Six strong highlights and insights have emerged from this discussion:

• Cross-sector collaboration is essential to ensure long-term and sustainable impact of sport-based initiatives.
• There is a growing awareness of the potential of sport for social development in the Czech Republic, though such initiatives remain on the margins compared to other countries, especially from the Global South.
• Schools and public institutions are well positioned to play a stronger role by making sports infrastructure more accessible and encouraging physical activity throughout the school day.
• Greater public investment and a clear political will are needed to unlock the full potential of sport in society.
• Combining sport and social development via concrete methods, such as the Football3 programme, implemented by Fair Play Point, demonstrate the strong educational and motivational impact sport can have, especially with marginalised youth.
• More sports companies and sports clubs are embracing the full potential of corporate social responsibility, for more authentic, long-term engagement in social impact, both through partnerships and their own initiatives.

The panelists were:

• Simona Safarikova (University Palacky of Olomouc)
• Dino Numerato (Charles University of Prague)
• Ondřej Andrys (Ministry of Education, Prague, Czech Republic)
• Michaela Schejbalová (SK Slavia Praha - fotbal a.s.)
• Dana Svobodová (DECATHLON Czech Republic)
• Štefan Gabčo (People in Need)

The event was organised by Fair Play Point and the University Palacky of Olomouc, within the framework of their joint projects:

• Policy Advocacy in Sport and Society (PASS)
• European Dimension in Sport for Development and Peace (EUSportDev)

The projects are co-funded by the European Union and the Unesco Chair for Sport for Development and Peace. 

To learn more or get involved contact the project coordinators [email protected] or [email protected].