Intercultural dialogue through sport ‘essentially a local process’

Intercultural dialogue through sport happens mainly at local level, so local and national governments must therefore commit to supporting long-term initiatives by sports clubs, organisations and individuals on the field, concluded a two-day seminar.

An international round table on ‘Sport for all as the element of intercultural dialogue’ took place in Slovenia on 15-16 May 2008, resulting in a set of commitments by participants to build a Sport for All (SFA) society. The roundtable conclusions also outlined a number of policy recommendations for improving relations between civil society, national governments, international NGOs and EU institutions. 

The concept of SFA is about using sport as a tool for integration, inclusion and social cohesion as well as to support health, sustainable development and education.

“We have not just made declarations to put in the piles of paper. We have made clear commitments to act,” said Mogens Kirkeby, president of the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA).

ISCA and the European Confederation Sport and Health (CESS) specifically committed to activating a ‘Sport for All’ network in South East Europe as an instrument of the EU enlargement process to the Western Balkans.

Furthermore, national sports organisations are urged to engage in networking and best-practice exchange at the local level as well as to “support the build up of stable organisational structures to sustain the day-to-day intercultural dialogue that is needed to follow up on larger events and manifestations”. 

Finally, the conclusions acknowledge that intercultural dialogue through sport “is essentially a local process, driven by committed sports clubs, organisations and individuals” and recommend that local governments lend their support to make such organisational structures stable enough to support long-term initiatives.

As for national governments, they are asked to support a holistic approach to the issue by ensuring “close cooperation and a cross-sectoral, long-term framework and policies”. 

ISCA and CESS are set to draft a set of recommendations on sport and intercultural dialogue as a response to the EU White Paper on Sport ahead of the next European Sport Forum, set to take place in Biarritz in December 2008.

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