How have sports organisations responded to the challenges posed by racism and discrimination in European sport?
I am quite optimistic. In sport, athletes as well as leaders and sport-loving people are well aware of the risks represented by racism, which is really a bloody poison for sport. They are also determined to struggle against it. Some sports are more hit by this phenomenon than others. Football is by far the most popular sport, and very much exposed to racist manifestations but if you go the UEFA website – you can see how engaged they are in the combat against racism, giving the example to other sports and sport organisations. I can tell you about other initiatives, too. FARE (Football against Racism in Europe) is a network of a large variety of organisations involved in football and engaged against racism. Or just think of the ‘Stand Up Speak Up’ campaign launched in January 2005 by the French football player Thierry Henry, or, to take an example from outside football, last year the FIA ( Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) announced the Everyrace antiracism campaign. 6. What rol
