Doha: Doha based, International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and its partners the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) along with representatives of the Republic of Senegal joined forces to host the first National Focal Points (NFPs) Regional Forum for Africa.

The event, which took place in Dakar, Senegal aims to be a reference event in Africa to engage high level policy-makers, stakeholders and youth in terms of major sporting events (MSE) and to build resilience to violent extremism.

The Forum was organized within the framework of the multi-year Global Programme on the Security Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism (Global Sports Programme), an initiative supported by the State of Qatar, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea as donors.

The Global Programme is aimed at strengthening the protection of MSE through enhanced international cooperation and sustainable security approaches while promoting the values of sport as a powerful means to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism.

During the two-day event, partners have introduced the Global Sports Programme and the Global Guide on the Security of Major Sporting Events: Promoting Sustainable Security & Legacies produced by the Global Programme.

The Forum was an opportunity to overview Global Sports Programme's security outputs and national perspectives on sport for preventing violent extremism.

It also provided an e-training and practical group exercise to help participants understand in greater depth how to identify challenges on major sport events safety and security and prevention of extremism using the values of sport as elaborated by the Global Sports Programme, paving the way for future integrated workshops and training for African countries. 

Diogo Guia, Director of Sport Public Policy, ICSS, said:“This Forum, which kicks start a new partnership with African countries, offers a unique opportunity in supporting them to build national capacities in terms of sport security and the use of sport to prevent violent extremism.

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