Israel vs Georgia in the July 1 quarterfinals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi. Photo: IMAGO/Beautiful Sports via Reuters Connect

A coalition of 62 nations on Friday committed to combat antisemitism and all forms of intolerance in sports, calling on sporting bodies to promote human rights and adopt policies against discrimination.

The countries — led by Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic — signed a joint statement during a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva pledging to fight antisemitism and other kinds of hatred “anywhere, at any time, and through all channels, including in sport.”

The statement called on “governments, international organizations, sporting bodies, civil society, media, and all other stakeholders to intensify the fight against racism, antisemitism, and all other forms of intolerance in sport by educating the youth of the world through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind.” Signatories also asked sporting bodies to meet their responsibilities to protect not only athletes but also fans, journalists, and the integrity of the competitions among others by adopting effective policies to tackle discrimination.

While the countries highlighted discrimination in broad terms, the statement especially focused on the prevalence of antisemitism.

“Various forms of antisemitism — including Holocaust denial and distortion — are on the rise throughout the world, and for far too long have plagued our societies, continuously developing into new manifestations. Sports are not immune from such challenges,” the statement read. “Despite multiple efforts made by governments, international organizations, and sporting
bodies, antisemitic incidents in stadiums, among fan groups or on social media continue to be a serious problem that affects the reputation of sport.”

The statement was read in the UNHRC by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and drafted with input from the World Jewish Congress (WJC).

“This initiative exemplifies a united stand against antisemitism and the potential of sports as a countermeasure to confront hate speech,” said Dr. Leon Saltiel, the WJC’s director of diplomacy and representative in Geneva. “Such cooperation, particularly those that incorporate sporting platforms as a tool, help heighten enthusiasm and manifest global resolve to challenge hate and prejudice. The support from countries across the five continents further exemplifies this united front against the scourge of antisemitism.”

The WJC organized an event called “Combating Antisemitism in and Through Sports” on the sidelines of the March UNHRC session that was attended by leaders from many nations and international soccer clubs.