ECCAR, UNESCO and FC Barcelona in partnership with the European Parliament started a project entitled “Youth Voices Against Racism” which was intended to address an issue of common concern: racism and sport.

Unfortunately, sport events in European cities are increasingly suffering from racial and anti-Semitic abuses, violence and discriminating behaviour.

On the other hand, sport creates a universal language and common references and teaches essential values such as tolerance, respect and solidarity. Sport is a means to bring people closer together regardless of their social, cultural or ethnic background, their age or their sex. In this way sport can eliminate barriers and negative stereotypes. 

With this in mind the co-organisers appealed to the youth of the Coalition’s member cities to engage in a discussion on the specific role of sport in combating racism and discrimination, and to formulate practical recommendations in this regard for municipalities, local governments and sport clubs.

The project consisted of following three main steps:

1) Consultations at the municipal level (June to September 2008). Further information >>

2) ECCAR Youth Forum as part of the second General Conference in Bologna / Italy (18 – 20 September 2008). Further information >> 

3) Presentation of the outcomes of the ECCAR Youth Forum at the European Parliament in Brussels / Belgium (6 November 2008). Further information >>

Young people between 15 and 18 years of age and interested in the topic “racism and sport” were invited to participate in the project.