At the 28th TAFISA World Congress, almost 400 delegates from 70 countries discussed the developments and challenges of the global “Sport for All” movement in a practice-oriented manner. IFA was represented this year by IFA President Jörn Verleger, Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner, Erasmus Project Manager Hanna Einsiedler and Head of Events Sönke Spille.
The motto of this year’s congress was “Sport for All: More together than ever”. Around 60 international speakers, including IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner, discussed topics such as Inclusion, Active Spaces, Well-Being Knowledge & Expertise and Sport Policy in a varied, interactive program. The cross-cutting themes of Peace, Youth, Major Sports Policy and Climate Change will also be highlighted.
In addition, sessions for the EU-funded Erasmus+ project “INTERACT+”, in which the IFA is involved, also took place during the congress days. During the congress, the next steps in the project were prepared and the upcoming capacity-building workshops (December 7/8, organized by the IFA in Linz) were planned and prepared.
As a result of the congress, the participants from 70 countries issued a declaration calling for more resources to implement the human right “Sport for All”
After four congress days, the 28th TAFISA World Congress came to a close. During this time, a total of three plenary sessions, 10 parallel sessions, three “Sport for All” excursions and four evening events took place.
The congress participants adopted a joint congress declaration (original below) in which they call on global politicians to take more intensive action and provide more resources for the implementation of the human right “Sport for All”. Specifically, the so-called “Call to Action” calls for orchestrated action by governments, the private sector, media, NGOs and global and regional institutions. The aim should be to make “Sport for All a mandate and not an option”.
TAFISA President Wolfgang Baumann: “During the Congress we had the opportunity to witness the positive impact of the Sport for All movement. The success stories and statistics that were shared clearly show the lasting differences our collective efforts can make in society. Participants came together from different cultures from all corners of the world. As a result, the congress also sent a strong signal for peace and mutual understanding between people. Together we can be the driving force for positive change and create a better world for all through Sport for All. More together than ever!”
After Munich 2003, this was the second time that the TAFISA World Congress was held in Germany. The congress is of great importance for the global development of grassroots sport, as international players enter into a multilateral exchange, including with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO) and national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations. At the heart of the work of TAFISA and its partners is the human right “Sport for All”, which goes back to the original Olympic movement around Pierre de Coubertin.
Exact wording of the congress declaration (“Call-to-Action”) of the 28th TAFISA World Congress:
Covid, Climate, Conflicts – the current crises that the world is facing are pushing people, societies, and countries apart.
We, the TAFISA World Congress participants, believe in the power of Sport for All as one of the very few unifying languages in the world.
The TAFISA World Congress provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive platform where we talk, listen to and respect each other, and where we are able to exchange openly and work together.
This is a call for concerted action towards governments at all levels, the private sector, media, NGOs, global and regional institutions, across all sectors, to combine our complementary strengths and resources through the following actions:
• Implement Sport for All as a cross-cutting theme in all policy fields,
• Openly share and exchange knowledge and stories with the general public to increase impact,
• Recognise and support personal involvement through volunteerism and individual commitment to Sport for All,
• Invest people and resources in Sport for All as a means to contribute to the SDGs, and
• Make Sport for All a mandate and not an option.
Now is the time to act. More together than ever.
http://tafisa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2023/TAFISA%20World%20Congress%202023_Call%20to%20Action.pdf