403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were
looking for doesn't exist.
UN House In Doha Hosts Inaugural Expert Meeting Fit For Life In Emergencies
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) convened, at the UN House in Doha for four days, the inaugural expert meeting "Fit for Life in Emergencies: UNESCO Chairs in Sport and Physical Activity".
Underscoring the need for sport as a tool for resilience and long-term recovery, the event was co-sponsored by the Qatar National Research Fund, the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Qatar, the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen in Doha, the Generation Amazing Foundation, the International Center for Sport Security, and the College of Science and Engineering at HBKU.
It brought together global experts, UNESCO Chairs, NGOs, and sport organizations to explore innovative strategies for leveraging sport and quality physical education in crisis settings and to protect sport ecosystems, whether a result of natural or man-made disasters.
In this context, UNESCO Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen, Salah El Din Zaki Khaled, remarked: "This event comes at a time when the world is grappling with unprecedented humanitarian challenges. The ability of sport and quality physical education to foster resilience, inclusion, and recovery is no longer a secondary consideration it is a necessity."
He added: "By bringing together global experts, we are not just discussing ideas; we are laying the foundation for concrete action that can make a difference where it is needed most."
The meeting reinforced Qatar's leadership in using sport as a driver for development, peace, and social change, aligning with UNESCO's Fit for Life initiative and Qatar's Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030.
Since 2005, Qatar has hosted 176 high-profile sporting events, solidifying its reputation as a global sports hub. As Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), Qatar continues to champion sport as a force for good, ensuring that major sporting legacies translate into sustainable social impact.
Generation Amazing Foundation Executive Director, Nasser Al Khori, emphasized the transformative power of sport, stating, "We are at a turning point where sport is no longer seen as a luxury in crisis response but as an essential tool for fostering hope, dignity, and resilience.
This meeting underscores Qatar's dedication to sport for development and peace, highlighting how our initiatives can create lasting impact, particularly for marginalized and at-risk communities."
For his part, HE Ambassador of the EU to the State of Qatar, Dr. Cristian Tudor, said: "Sport is a powerful instrument for social inclusion, resilience, and peace-building. The EU strongly believes in the unifying power of sport, especially in times of crisis. Through initiatives like Fit for Life in Emergencies, we reaffirm our commitment to using sport as a tool for diplomacy and humanitarian response."
He added: "By working together across sectors, we can ensure that sport continues to bring hope and tangible support to those affected by emergencies."
Through a series of workshops, experts examined critical governance challenges, innovative approaches to sport delivery in emergencies, and strategies to measure impact. Discussions focused on ensuring that sport remains an accessible and vital mechanism for inclusion, peace-building, and sustainable recovery, particularly for refugees, displaced persons, individuals with disabilities, and migrant communities.
In turn, UNESCO Chairholder at HBKU, Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos, underscored the academic significance of the gathering, stating: "The global landscape is shifting, and with it, the role of sport in emergencies must evolve to encompass social responsibility and governance as two vital dimensions. The outcomes of this event will not only shape future research and policy but also aim to empower the next generation of leaders to harness sport as a tool for social change in crisis contexts."
Expected outcomes from the meeting include the development of a co-authored "blueprint for action," offering strategic guidance on governance, implementation, and impact measurement for sport-in-emergencies programs. This blueprint will be presented at UNESCO's 2025 CIGEPS meeting, positioning Qatar at the forefront of global sports diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.
Additionally, a new continuing professional development (CPD) course will be developed, equipping students specializing in sport with the expertise to navigate emergency contexts and reinforcing Qatar's commitment to research-driven policy and advocacy in this evolving field.
Since its establishment in June 2022 in Cyprus, the UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport has undergone significant development. As of March 2023, it operates under a joint leadership arrangement between UCLan Cyprus and the College of Science and Engineering at HBKU, headed by UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport founder and director Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos.
The primary objective of the chair is to promote research, training, public dialogue, and international cooperation focused on enhancing organizational sport governance and implementing (corporate) social responsibility programs with sport as a central component. (
Underscoring the need for sport as a tool for resilience and long-term recovery, the event was co-sponsored by the Qatar National Research Fund, the Delegation of the European Union to the State of Qatar, the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen in Doha, the Generation Amazing Foundation, the International Center for Sport Security, and the College of Science and Engineering at HBKU.
It brought together global experts, UNESCO Chairs, NGOs, and sport organizations to explore innovative strategies for leveraging sport and quality physical education in crisis settings and to protect sport ecosystems, whether a result of natural or man-made disasters.
In this context, UNESCO Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen, Salah El Din Zaki Khaled, remarked: "This event comes at a time when the world is grappling with unprecedented humanitarian challenges. The ability of sport and quality physical education to foster resilience, inclusion, and recovery is no longer a secondary consideration it is a necessity."
He added: "By bringing together global experts, we are not just discussing ideas; we are laying the foundation for concrete action that can make a difference where it is needed most."
The meeting reinforced Qatar's leadership in using sport as a driver for development, peace, and social change, aligning with UNESCO's Fit for Life initiative and Qatar's Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030.
Since 2005, Qatar has hosted 176 high-profile sporting events, solidifying its reputation as a global sports hub. As Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), Qatar continues to champion sport as a force for good, ensuring that major sporting legacies translate into sustainable social impact.
Generation Amazing Foundation Executive Director, Nasser Al Khori, emphasized the transformative power of sport, stating, "We are at a turning point where sport is no longer seen as a luxury in crisis response but as an essential tool for fostering hope, dignity, and resilience.
This meeting underscores Qatar's dedication to sport for development and peace, highlighting how our initiatives can create lasting impact, particularly for marginalized and at-risk communities."
For his part, HE Ambassador of the EU to the State of Qatar, Dr. Cristian Tudor, said: "Sport is a powerful instrument for social inclusion, resilience, and peace-building. The EU strongly believes in the unifying power of sport, especially in times of crisis. Through initiatives like Fit for Life in Emergencies, we reaffirm our commitment to using sport as a tool for diplomacy and humanitarian response."
He added: "By working together across sectors, we can ensure that sport continues to bring hope and tangible support to those affected by emergencies."
Through a series of workshops, experts examined critical governance challenges, innovative approaches to sport delivery in emergencies, and strategies to measure impact. Discussions focused on ensuring that sport remains an accessible and vital mechanism for inclusion, peace-building, and sustainable recovery, particularly for refugees, displaced persons, individuals with disabilities, and migrant communities.
In turn, UNESCO Chairholder at HBKU, Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos, underscored the academic significance of the gathering, stating: "The global landscape is shifting, and with it, the role of sport in emergencies must evolve to encompass social responsibility and governance as two vital dimensions. The outcomes of this event will not only shape future research and policy but also aim to empower the next generation of leaders to harness sport as a tool for social change in crisis contexts."
Expected outcomes from the meeting include the development of a co-authored "blueprint for action," offering strategic guidance on governance, implementation, and impact measurement for sport-in-emergencies programs. This blueprint will be presented at UNESCO's 2025 CIGEPS meeting, positioning Qatar at the forefront of global sports diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.
Additionally, a new continuing professional development (CPD) course will be developed, equipping students specializing in sport with the expertise to navigate emergency contexts and reinforcing Qatar's commitment to research-driven policy and advocacy in this evolving field.
Since its establishment in June 2022 in Cyprus, the UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport has undergone significant development. As of March 2023, it operates under a joint leadership arrangement between UCLan Cyprus and the College of Science and Engineering at HBKU, headed by UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport founder and director Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos.
The primary objective of the chair is to promote research, training, public dialogue, and international cooperation focused on enhancing organizational sport governance and implementing (corporate) social responsibility programs with sport as a central component. (
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment