Established around the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019 and co-convened by UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency, the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) and the Scort Foundation, the Sport for Refugees Coalition brings together more than 130 entities from the world of sport, civil society, public and private sectors to extend access to sport to refugees and other displaced people around the world.
By pledging to the Multistakeholder Pledge on Sport for Protection and Inclusion at the second Global Refugee Forum in 2023, organizations committed to supporting refugees in one or more of the five commitment areas:
- Promote an enabling environment, including policy, that delivers access to safe sport
- Promote and provide inclusive, safe, sport and play-based initiatives
- Promote and provide opportunities for enhanced skills and pathways in and through sport
- Use targets communication, evidence and advocacy
- Strengthen partnerships and coordination efforts
In the period since the Global Refugee Forum, the Sport for Refugees Coalition has provided a platform for members to connect with others involved in sport with and for displaced and host communities, to share and learn from good practices, and acts as a focal point for joint communication and advocacy efforts promoting sport as an essential tool in displacement settings.
If you are interested in joining the Sport for Refugees Coalition, contact the coalition on [email protected].
The Sport for Refugees Coalition and sportanddev
In 2020, sportanddev established a space on its website, in collaboration with UNHCR. This aimed to bring information to sport organisations on the work that was going on to support refugees and other displaced communities through sport. This work included a dedicated space on the sportanddev.org platform on the intersection between sport and refugees, regular updates, and an annual Week of Action on Sport and Refugees. In 2022, this work was taken on by the Sport for Refugees Coalition, in partnership with sportanddev.
The Week of Action
Every year, the Sport for Refugees Coalition and sportanddev run a week of activities dedicated to the intersection of sport and refugees. It provides opportunities for interested organisations to exchange and learn from each other, raise awareness of the role of sport in responses to forced displacement, and promote coordination across the sport ecosystem.
2023: Taking action for the inclusion and protection of refugees
- Webinar: Leveraging the sport ecosystem for refugee protection and inclusion at the Global Refugee Forum
- FAQs on How can you get involved in international efforts to support refugees through sport
2022: How can sport better respond to forced displacement caused by crises?
- Responses to our call for articles
- Webinar: Upping the game – how can sport better respond to forced displacement?
2021: Using sport to support displaced women and girls
