Established around the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019 and co-convened by UNHCR-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.
These organisations pledged to “provide sporting opportunities for young refugees.” The released a value statement and made commitments around three pledges:
- To promote and ensure access for all refugees, without distinction of any kind, to safe and inclusive sporting facilities
- To increase availability and access to organised sports and sport-based initiatives for refugee and hosting communities, actively considering age, gender, ability and other diversity needs
- To promote and facilitate equal access to and participation of refugees in sporting events and competitions at all levels
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 Sports for Refugees Coalition, contact us at [email protected]
The Sport for Refugees Coalition and the International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev)
In 2020 sportanddev establish a space on its website, in collaboration with UNHCR, aimed at bringing information to sport organisations on the work that was going on to support refugee 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 annual Week of Action on refugees and sport. In 2022, this work was taken on by the Sport for Refugees Coalition.
The Week of Action
The “Week of Action” is a week of activities on the sportanddev platform dedicated to the intersection of sport and refugees. It provides opportunities for interested organisations to exchange and learn from each other about working with refugees, raise awareness of the role of sport in responses to forced displacements, and promote coordination across the sport ecosystem.
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
2020: What role can sport play in tackling the impact of displacement?
- Responses to our call for articles
- Webinar: Sport for protection: How can sport address challenges faced by refugees?
