Game Changers - Combating Hate Speech In Sports

Hellenic Youth Participation, recognizing the rise in fan violence and hate speech in sports, launched “Game Changers: Combating Hate Speech in Sports” to raise awareness and encourage active participation among young people aged 13–17. Through an international youth exchange with 42 participants from 7 countries, the young people developed skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and countering hate speech in sports. During the program, seven campaigns were designed on the themes of recognizing and combating hate speech, as well as promoting sports, which were carried out at the local level. The team from Croatia organized a volleyball tournament, the team from Poland organized an activity at a school and another at a martial arts center, and teams from Italy, Spain, Hungary, North Macedonia, and Greece organized local activities at schools.
What did we achieve?
We trained 34 young people from 7 different countries.
We tested activities that enhance the recognition and countering of hate speech.
We highlighted the importance of mental and physical health through sports.
We organized 7 local events in each partner country on the topic of hate speech in sports

The objectives of the project were:

-Promote the prevention of radicalization in sports and raising awareness of issues related to hate speech in sports

-Highlight the importance of young people’s mental and physical well-being as a counterbalancing factor against the expression of violence and hate.

-Strengthen everyday practices and critical thinking regarding hate speech and increasing resilience

-Create 7 local initiatives with social impact and taking the lead on projects

-Strengthen participants’ personal, professional, and interpersonal skills.

Game Changers - Combating Hate Speech in Sports was co-funded by the European Union and the Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation (INEDIVIM).

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