“We believe sport can bring people and cultures together around shared values,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. “Sport is a field of dreams, a motor for tremendous positive change – a power we must nurture to fight hatred, promote human rights, deepen inclusion, build stronger, more cohesive societies.”

In November 2015, UNESCO and the Tolerance Centre signed a Letter of Agreement to partner for the promotion of inclusion, diversity, anti-discrimination and human rights. Ms Bokova recalled her visit to the institution and praised its educational work, in the presence of the Centre’s General-Director Mr Alexander Boroda. The Centre was awarded the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-violence in November 2016.

Ms Bokova underlined the power of sports to build long-term peace, solidarity and to promote human rights. She highlighted UNESCO’s previous work and commitments in this fight, such as the report on discrimination in international football, entitled “Colour? What Colour?”, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace campaign.

“These are the partnerships for innovation we need today, to take forward the 2030 Agenda, to make the most of the power of sport, to fight discrimination and promote inclusion. This won’t happen by itself – we need to act together, and by joining forces, by leading effective initiatives, I am convinced we can make a difference to ‘score for tolerance” concluded UNESCO Director-General.

On the margins of the event, she met with the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, Mr Pavel Kolobkov regarding the International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sports (MINEPS VI), which will be hosted this July in Kazan.