Lisbon, October 09 (QNA) – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), an independent and non-profit international organization based in Doha, has strengthened its global relations by a new European-funded partnership aims at integrating refugees in various societies in Europe.
The ICSS Europe, within the framework of the “Save the Dream” initiative, will coordinate the “Crossing the Boundaries through Sport (CrosSport)” project, which was launched by the International Olympic Truce Centre (IOTC), Spanish Fundacion Sevilla Futbol Club and Italys Fondazione Lazio 1900 in a collaborative partnership under the EU Erasmus+ sport program.
The initiative aims to help the refugees in Europe by using the power of sport as a tool to establish peace and coexistence among different peoples, and to enshrine the right of everyone, including refugees, to benefit from the noble values of sport.
The project comes in response to today’s current and dramatic events stressing, more than ever, the need to adopt innovative measures and CrosSports pioneering approach aimed at exploring new avenues for reception, inclusion and integration of refugees in the societies by using the power of sport.
The CrosSport projects official launch took place during a project kick-off session held during the European Week of Sport in Lisbon, hosted by the National Olympic Committee of Portugal.
The project kick-off session brought together project partners along with relevant international and national institutions, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth.
The projects main deliverables during the 24 months implementation of CrosSport includes: Reference framework and networking through focus groups where experts will discuss and share knowledge and best practices on how to use sport as a tool of inclusion; Methodology Handbook on how to achieve a strengthened cooperation between sport organizations and integration-focused social development organizations and to increase community participation of youth refugees through the attractiveness of sport activities; and Educational programs for the creation of two figures: a “Community Leader for Inclusion through Sport” and “Sport for Inclusion Activist” within the refugee community.
In comments, Massimiliano Montanari, chief executive of ICSS, said: “When we presented our project proposal to the European Union, the world, Europe in particular, was looking very different. We were focusing mainly on refugees flows from the Middle East and North Africa towards Europe.” “Todays 7.5 million refugees from Ukraine, mainly women and children, are still sitting in their homes, safely,” he said. “But the power of sport remains the same and, jointly with our partners, Sevilla FC and Lazio SS foundations, IOTC, the European Union and hopefully many others, we are determined to make the best possible use of it to alleviate the despair and the suffering refugees are exposed to.” “This is what the CrosSport project, ‘Crossing the Boundaries through Sport’, aims to achieve,” he added.
For his part, National Olympic Committee of Portugal director-general Joao Paulo Almeida said: “Sport plays an indisputable role to build bridges between communities, inspiring people and decision makers to overcome physical and cultural boundaries to foster social integration of refugees and ethnic minorities. I believe CrosSport will deliver a comprehensive program to build capacity of those engaged in this paramount challenge.” (QNA)