The World Jewish Congress’s Together Through Sport initiatives represent a comprehensive effort to leverage the universal appeal and community-building potential of sports to combat antisemitism by fostering a more inclusive and respectful sporting culture that stands firmly against all forms of discrimination.
We believe that the sporting community has the power to unite people from diverse backgrounds and can play a crucial role in addressing social issues, including the persistent challenge of antisemitism.
Antisemitism presents a significant challenge within sports and society. Consequently, our programs target not just athletes, clubs, and their personnel, but also the wider community. By engaging in our programming, they become vital agents of influence across broader swaths of society.
Our mission focuses on education, communication, policy formulation, and the sharing of best practices within the sporting world.
Stakeholders across the sporting community want to act, but don't always know how. Together Through Sport offers comprehensive consulting and project development. We bring together the unique diversity of experience and perspectives from Jewish communities, extensive experience in professional sports, and comprehensive knowledge in the development and implementation of educational projects, from the local to international levels.
This facet of our work aims to raise awareness and understanding within the sporting community about Jewish culture, the challenges of antisemitism, and the importance of Holocaust remembrance. By educating supporters, staff, and athletes about Jewish life and ways to counter antisemitism, we aim to foster a more inclusive and sensitive sporting environment. Tailored programs will cover historical context, contemporary issues, and actionable strategies to support Jewish constituents effectively.
Developing targeted communications strategies is crucial for amplifying the voices of Jewish communities within the sporting world. This involves creating campaigns, content, and messaging that highlight the concerns, achievements, and contributions of Jewish individuals and communities. By doing so, we can enhance visibility, foster understanding, and promote solidarity against antisemitism.
Sharing and promoting best practices across the sporting world is vital for creating a unified front against antisemitism. This includes organizing forums, partnering with multilateral bodies, and creating platforms for exchange and learning. By highlighting successful initiatives and strategies, the committee can encourage the adoption of effective measures across different sports and levels, from local clubs to international federations.
The sporting community has begun to embrace the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism as a foundational tool for policymaking, education, and enforcement efforts to combat hate and discrimination. But more must be done to act against anti-Jewish hate. Building upon this, we have formulated guidelines for the definition’s adoption and integration into the structures of associations and clubs through programing and other model initiatives.
In Focus│ UEFA Euros 2024
Football and Remembrance
Football and Remembrance connects UEFA EURO 2024 attendees with the history of the Holocaust through visits to local memorials and former concentration camps. Developed in partnership with the German Football Association’s (DFB) Cultural Foundation, “Football and Remembrance” reflects on history by using sport as a bridge to the past. Special programming at each site highlights the interconnectedness of sports, history, and memory. A website, available before and during the tournament, also links visitors to host cities where memorials and museums are located.
SPORTS. CROWDS. POWER.
SPORTS. CROWDS. POWER. explores the nefarious role of sports under National Socialism and delves into how the Nazis manipulated sports to consolidate power, the tragic impact of the Holocaust on European Jewish athletes and sporting clubs, and the contemporary role of sports in combating antisemitism. Members of the public can visit the exhibit located at the Sports Museum on the grounds of the 1936 Summer Olympics, when the Nazis were in power. The site is adjacent to Berlin’s Olympic Stadium which will host the finals of this summer’s tournament.
Highlights
Together Through Sports was unveiled as an initiative at a 2023 United Nations Human Rights Council side event in Geneva. Operating with the support of WhatMatters and a broad network of partners, the WJC works to implement activities focused on sports, antisemitism, and Holocaust remembrance. Over recent years, this initiative has spawned numerous activities, including regular trainings and public events organized by the German Football League, as well as workshops in collaboration with stakeholders in the sports sector in the Netherlands, Austria, and elsewhere.
The WJC’s #WeRemember campaign has been instrumental in promoting Holocaust remembrance globally, including in professional sports, since its inception. Additionally, our BRIDGES project, funded by the European Commission, aims to establish sustainable networks between sports institutions and Jewish communities, prioritizing the incorporation of Jewish perspectives in all our activities. A major forthcoming initiative is our extensive involvement in UEFA EURO 2024, the European Football Championship hosted by Germany in 2024.
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) has forged pivotal relationships with premier football clubs, including Chelsea FC, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Boca Juniors, and Maccabi Haifa, among others. Our collaborative network extends across national-league frameworks in a diverse array of countries such as the UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Israel. This extensive engagement underscores our strategic position in leading the conversation on combating antisemitism through sports.
Our initiatives are marked by substantive action and have been focused on the development and implementation of concrete training programs across leagues in Germany and Austria, where we have solidified league-wide commitment to addressing antisemitism. The WJC's success in elevating these discussions to an international platform is demonstrated through forums held at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, in collaboration with clubs and UEFA, and through integrating sporting initiatives within the core agendas of national envoys dedicated to combating antisemitism. Our endeavors also include significant engagement with UNESCO and a noteworthy event at the House of Lords in the UK, aimed at amplifying the dialogue across the English Football Association.
The WJC has pioneered models for Jewish community and Israel engagement in partnership with the Israel Football Association and European and Israeli league clubs. This approach is especially critical in response to the complexities emerging post-October 7th, providing clarity and direction for sporting entities navigating these challenging times. Our support extends to exchange programs that not only offer young Israelis affected by conflict the opportunity to experience Bundesliga matches but also facilitate visits by German league and club staff to Israel, fostering solidarity and shared learning.
To elevate the place of Holocaust remembrance and education in the consciousness of the sporting community, we have worked with dozens of clubs to expand our #WeRemember Campaign for Holocaust Remembrance Day. Through pre-match ceremonies, club photos, communications programs, and uniform-patches, we have reached millions.