Qatar 2022 an opportunity to build better future for GenNext, says Sheikha Alya
QATAR is proud to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world and considers the World Cup as an opportunity for Qatar and the region to stimulate social development and build a better future for next generations, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani has said.
“Now, it is more important than ever to support sports and physical activities. Sport should be included in the recovery plans after the COVID-19 pandemic within the national strategies for sustainable development, because it is an essential factor in mitigating the impact of the pandemic on health and people and has an important impact in the restoration of normal life activities,” Sheikha Alya said during a high-level meeting on the prevention of violent extremism through sports.
The event was organised by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in partnership with the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS).
SPORTS have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values throughout. It is a powerful vector to facilitate integration, promote gender equality, encourage youth empowerment and support efforts aimed at preventing and countering violent-extremism and radicalisation.
With this vision in mind and within the framework of the “United Nations Global Programme on the Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism”, the United Nations Office of CounterTerrorism (UNOCT) convened a High-Level Meeting on the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) through Sports, in partnership with the co-implementing partners of the programme, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS). The workstream of the project dedicated to Security of Major Sporting Events was launched on 3 February 2020.
HE Sheikha Alya Al Thani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN, said, “Qatar is extremely proud to host the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022 the first World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world. We view the World Cup as a catalyst for Qatar and the region to accelerate social progress and to build a better future for the generations to come.
“It’s more important than ever to support sports and physical activity. Sport must be included in recovery plans post COVID-19 and in national strategies for sustainable development. Sport is key to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on health and well-being and in building back better.”
Mohammed Hanzab, Chairman of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), Founder of Save the Dream, said, “I am confident that following this meeting and further development work, we will deliver solid mechanisms which will be effectively used in sports-based policies to prevent violent extremism.
“While that will be a significant step, we must continue to work together and stay committed to international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships within the framework of the United Nations’ agenda with the aim of promoting the use of sport as a powerful tool to address the root causes of violent extremism and as a soft-power resting on its ability to instill the values of tolerance and inclusiveness, and to create opportunities for the most vulnerable targets in the high-risk communities.”
The virtual high-level meeting featured discussions between senior United Nations officials, Member States and international organizations representatives, policymakers, and sports personalities committed to the fight against violent extremism.
The event will be followed by a technical-level International Expert Group Meeting on 21-23 September 2020 where representatives from governments, international and regional organisations, sport bodies, academia and civil society organisations will share experiences and discuss actionable good practices of sport-based interventions aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE).
The event precedes the launch of a series of initiatives such as the development of a guide for policymakers, a training handbook and a global campaign, which will bring together globally-renowned athletes and youth in a joint effort to PCVE.
The campaign, which is currently being developed, should gain significant exposure during upcoming major sporting events, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In addition, the project will launch a grant-awarding mechanism for local civil society organizations working on sports-based prevention of violent extremism (PVE) at the grassroots level in selected countries of Africa and the Middle East.
The project is supported by the State of Qatar, the United Nations Peace and Development Fund (People’s Republic of China) and the Republic of Korea.