Image: Lara Suffel/DFB
A year before the start of EURO 2024the men’s European football championship, brought the UEFA Respect Forum On June 28th and 29th, more than 200 industry experts and stakeholders of European football met at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt.
“We want EURO 2024 to lead by example and create a sustainable model that applies to all competitions,” said Michele Uva, UEFA’s director of social and environmental sustainability.
According to Andreas Schär, Managing Director of EURO 2024, “Sustainability will be part of the DNA of the tournament”. For example, the match schedule for the group stage was designed to minimize travel between the ten host cities.
Bringing the Sustainable Development Goals to the fore
Die UEFA is a member of the United Nations-led initiative „Football for the Goals“along with many other international and regional federations, national associations, leagues and clubs.
Football for the Goals encourages the global football community to use their visibility and reach to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) better known. The members undertake to observe the principles of sustainable development and to incorporate sustainable practices into their activities.
The Respect Forum showcased the latest trends, practices and innovations in the field of social and environmental sustainability and featured a range of lectures, panel discussions and workshops.
How football can help refugees
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, highlighted at the forum the important role that European football can play in integrating refugees into their new lives and communities. “I would like the European football associations to do even more to pass on their measures to the clubs at all levels. Bringing people together in the community has a very important local effect. We are working with UEFA to achieve this goal through football,” said Grandi.
16 teams from all over Europe, consisting of local youth players, refugees, boys and girls, competed in Frankfurt for the Unity EURO Cup – a joint initiative of UEFA and UNHCR. The inaugural UEFA #FootbALL Awards recognized inspiring examples of diversity and inclusion in football across four categories: national associations, leagues, clubs and players.
2023-07-11 10:24:27
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