Game Changers Conference - Report

On 30 March the International Conference Game Changers - Using sport as a tool for cross-community work and social inclusion held in Sarajevo brought together over 70 people in the center of the town. 

The event was held in the Bosanski Kulturni Centar (BKC) Sarajevo and brought together representatives of the EU-Delegation to BiH, from UEFA, the Football associations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Ireland and Northern Ireland as well as football clubs, civil society organizations (CSOs), and initiatives from 8 European countries with a focus on the region of the Western Balkans and Ireland. It was held in the frame of the “Football Zajedno” and the European “Sport Together” project. 

The conference aimed to inspire and promote the use of sport as a powerful tool for bringing communities together and promoting social inclusion. Throughout the day, participants shared their experiences, learned about best practices, and engaged in interactive social programs, including an emotional exhibition [in]visible - stories of women, minority groups, and migrant women in sports, a Living Library to meet partners and a microsoccer field to play football. 

The conference was opened by Adnan Džemidžić, General Secretary of the Football Association of BiH, Johann Sattler, Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ulrike Hartmann, Ambassador of Austria in BiH, Monica Namy Social responsibility manager from UEFA and David Hudelist, project manager at the fairplay initiative (VIDC). It was a special moment when they took to the field of the microsoccer field not just to play football but to send a clear message that sport brings communities together and is an excellent tool for social inclusion. The match was a symbolic demonstration of the power of sport to unite people across borders and cultures. 

The conference continued with panel discussions that touched on vital issues such as the role of sports in promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and community work. Former players and activists from the Western Balkan region and Ireland shared their experiences of divided communities, ethnic conflicts, and the transformative power of sports. In the afternoon, participants engaged in so-called world café sessions that focused on gender equality and participation of girls and women in sports, social inclusion of marginalized groups with a focus on refugees in sports, and presentation and testing of practical methods. 

David Hudelist, project manager of Football Zajdeno and Sport Together said: “The conference was a crucial step in the ongoing effort to create a positive social impact through sports and promote cross-community work and social inclusion. It showed us, how successful a good cooperation between governing bodies, football stakeholders and grassroots sport clubs and CSOs can be”. 

Football Zajedno opens the possibility not only for connecting clubs and organisations within Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also with associations of other countries. "This is not a one-way cooperation, this is a project that takes place in two directions and we very satisfied with the cooperation", says Adnan Džemidžić.

The UEFA "Football Zajedno" and European "Sports Together" project both are committed to promoting equality, human rights, and fighting against nationalism and segregation. The event was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, within the UEFA HatTrick V programme and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). 

For more information about the conference and the projects, please follow @footballzajedno and @fairplay_initiative on social media or contact us.