Fighting Antisemitism in Sport from the Playing Fields to the Stands
A declaration of intent to combat antisemitism in sports was signed at the Chigiana Library of Palazzo Chigi, on April 24. The agreement was signed by the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi; the National Coordinator for combating antisemitism, Pasquale Angelosanto; the President of Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, and the President of the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP), Marco Giunio De Sanctis. The agreement aims to strengthen actions against antisemitism through initiatives involving multiple stakeholders such as institutions, sport federations, associated disciplines, promotional bodies, sports clubs and affiliated associations, members and supporters.
“The world of sport once again proves to be a source of inspiration in upholding the values of fairness, sharing, and respect,” said Livia Ottolenghi, president of UCEI, who participated in the ceremony. According to Minister Abodi, “by signing of this declaration of intent, strongly supported by all of us, we are further strengthening the government’s work to combat all forms of discrimination, including in the area of sport.” “After signing the declaration of intent with Italian Football Federation (FIGC), we now expand these initiatives of awareness, information, education, responsibility, and communication to the entire world of sport. Thirteen key points are the framework of the actions we are to implement with stakeholders, including supporters. We will start with prevention, making clearer and concrete the fight against discriminatory behavior and language and the related fines”.
Minister Abodi hopes that “with this new assumption of responsibility, the values of sport in all its forms will be further promoted and protected, as a powerful form of social and individual immune defense that must be preserved and strengthened.”
“It is very important to continue undertaking all possible actions to counter the phenomenon of antisemitism, by implementing initiatives of awareness, information, and education aimed at athletes and registered members of sports clubs and associations. Antisemitism continues to be a threat,” emphasized General Pasquale Angelosanto.
The President of the Italian Paralympic Committee, Marco Giunio De Sanctis, recalled the recent “Journey of Memory” organized with Paralympic athletes.
Translated by Elizabeth El Khoury and revised by Caterina Mansani, students at the Advanced School for Interpreters and Translators of the University of Trieste, trainees in the newsroom of the Union of the Italian Jewish Communities – Pagine Ebraiche.