The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) expressed delight at the success of the ‘Save the Dream’ programme at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, as it highlighted the plans and programmes that link the social and youth aspects with the world’s most popular game, football.
In a statement, ICSS said the workshop organised by the ‘Save the Dream’ programme in co-operation with the Russian city of Kazan and the participation of more than 111 young leaders from 92 member countries of the International University Sports Federation, in the framework of the various activities, has attracted great attention and has become an international platform expressing the ideas and views of young people as leaders of the future.
As part of its activity in Russia, Save the Dream organised such ‘Ideation’ Workshop jointly with the Directorate for Sports and Social Projects and under the auspices of the FISU Volunteer Leaders Academy taking place in Kazan from June 14 to 21.
The workshop was managed by the Save the Dream Executive Director Massimiliano Montanari, and Dr Bahruz Balayev, Save the Dream’s Global Outreach Manager, with the support of FISU and Kazan officials. It sought to inspire new ideas and ways of thinking to support the implementation of the Kazan Action Plan.
“Students from all over the world possess a powerful voice that should be nurtured. As future leaders in sport and in society, their passion and commitment to upholding the true values and integrity of sport is fundamental,” said Executive Director of the ‘Save the Dream’ programme Massimilano Montanari.
“We were delighted to host so many bright, talented and driven young people at our Ideation Workshop and to hear their exciting ideas on how to contribute, as young multipliers, to the implementation of the Kazan Action Plan. We are grateful for the support of FISU for hosting the workshop as part of the Volunteer Leaders Academy and to the Directorate for Sports and Social Projects for their contribution and warm hospitality in Kazan.”
Head of the Directorate for Sports and Social Projects in Kazan Azat Kadyrov stressed that Kazan is proud to co-operate with the Save the Dream programme, which added value through the workshop to Russia’s hosting of the World Cup.
“The city of Kazan was proud to collaborate with Save the Dream and FISU on this workshop, which brought together students from around the world to discuss and brainstorm ideas on practical ways the Kazan Action Plan can be implemented. It was great to see so many young people engaged in the process and to hear their fascinating ideas for the future of sport development,” Kadyrov said.
The workshop, which started on June 14 and to be conclude on Thursday, represents an important platform for young people around the world in coincide with the holding of the World Cup to exchange ideas and proposals to support the Kazan Action Plan adopted last July by the 6th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VI).
The workshop highlights a number of important themes of the Kazan Plan Action, including the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, the building of more peaceful, inclusive and just societies, economic growth and job creation for all, as well as the protection of children, youth and vulnerable groups and the promotion of measures to protect minors from all types of exploitation during sports competitions.
The workshop comes within the keenness of ICSS, as an international reference for all aspects of integrity, safety and sports security in the world, to complement existing efforts to provide an umbrella of legislation to address the risks to global sport. ICSS had hosted the 2015 Doha meeting in co-operation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to follow up on the decisions of MINEPS V in 2013, most notably the Berlin Declaration.
ICSS, through its Save the Dream programme, is helping the implementation of Kazan Action Plan, which underlines the international commitment to developing sports policies in line with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
The plan also aims to strengthen national and international co-operation among stakeholders in a number of priority areas, including developing a comprehensive vision to ensure the right to sport for all and promote the role of sport in achieving sustainable development and peace, as well as protecting integrity in sport.
