Qatar’s Embassy to UK Organises Seminar titled ‘Sport for Development and Peace’

The Embassy of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom recently organised a seminar titled ‘Sport for Development and Peace’ on the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

The seminar, which was conducted remotely, stressed on the impact of sports on international development and peace. All the speakers during the seminar focused on sports as an empowerment factor for improving the peace and enhancement efforts by coordination it in marginalized communities and enabling them to realize their full potential.

The attendees who took part in this virtual seminar lauded the efforts taken by the State of Qatar in this area, highlighting that since the State was granted the rights to host the 2022 World Cup, it has made more significant efforts to use sport as a catalyst for peace and enhancement.

During the outset of this virtual seminar hosted by Qatar, Professor Simon Chadwick, Director of the Center for the Eurasian Sports Industry and Professor of the Eurasian Sport at the Emlyon Business School in France, stated that Qatar is collaborating their effors with international partners to empower refugees and the economically marginalized, and is currently implementing reforms to its labor market.

For her part, Reem Al Harami, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom, mentioned that sports has the power to boost the communities and bonds the nations for better peace, strength and development.

She also emphasised the vitality of sport in developing or making a progress in a sense of community belonging, particularly among those affected by violence and conflict, as well as its significance in responding to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, Marco Teixeira, Coordinator of the Global Program for the carrying out project and works for the Doha Declaration, shed light on the efforts implemented by the United Nations to use sports as a means to reach out to more youth for empowerment, and its targeting of the root causes of violence and crime and protecting the youth through its ‘Line up Live Up’ program.

Teixeira further added that the UNODC's ‘five regions’ approach to preventing violent extremism, which includes sport.

Massimiliano Montanari, Chief Executive Officer of the International Center for Sport Security, made note on the progress of sports, peace and enhancement and it usually focus on the activities carried out on ground, which are the end product of a long series of activities and initiatives that ultimately lead to their occurrence.

He also said that the international community, compared to past few years and decades, now has a mutual approach towards sport and peace, which creates synergy between societies and leads to better results in sport and projects related to enhancement.

Montanari also took time to commend the vital part played by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Darfur project lead by Qatar Charity (QC), as a successful initiative that was launched as a part of the broader foreign policy objectives of the State of Qatar to promote and reinforce peace in the country. He also praised Qatar’s immense efforts and contributions made to the sponsorship of sports and development, along with that he also said that each time his foundation contacts Qatari institutions to receive partnership offers, "no one says no."

Meanwhile, Danyel Reiche, visiting Associate Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, also shared her insights on the achievements of the Generation Amazing program and commended its part in contributing marginalized communities such as refugees in countries that are progressing each day and making a positive impact on their communities by sponsoring sport and development. He also mentioned that the challenge remains on these activities after the events and that Qatar will do an “exceptional job" if it can maintain its proactive approach in this area.

Stressing on the pivotal reports of some international media organisations about the situation of international workers in Qatar, he stated that some of these reports were not fair and some of them were not true. He also highlighted that Qatar addressed these issues by setting a minimum wage for all labours and enforced many other improvements for the employees from different nationalities.

Ali Abdullah, Vice Director General of Planning at QFFD, said that sport has the calibre to promote dialogue, common understanding, social inclusion and peace, signalling that has placed a huge value on enhancement and peace processes.

He made note on the sport that goes beyond borders and connects people from different nations, cultures, traditions and societies. He pinpointed that QFFD in the year 2018 signed an agreement with its strategic partners to help IDPs in Darfur, which aims at offering a safe and supportive environment for IDPs and rebuilding confidence.

On the other hand, Rwodah Ibrahim Al Naimi, head of Strategic Partnerships at QFFD, also talked on the vitality of the "overlapping links" between the enhancement and sport in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and primarily focused on the projects carried out by QFFD in Darfur in particular.

She highlighted the sports festival organized by QFFD in Darfur for children, joined by famous athletes, noting that it gave the children a sense of solidarity and was an opportunity to provide a safe environment that allows them to build their capabilities and enhance their physical and mental well-being. She explained that sport represents a unique opportunity in his ability to develop basic life skills and develop relationships between people.

Qatar Embassy to UK Virtual Seminar Sport for Development and Peace International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Qatar United Kingdom Qatar News Qatar Day