ISLAMABAD: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has joined the Global Refugee Forum Multi-stakeholder Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection by becoming a signatory.
The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is the world’s largest international gathering in support of refugees and the communities that host them. The GRF Progress Review marks the mid-point in the GRF cycle and aims to track implementation of pledges made at the previous forum.
The Multi-stakeholder Sport Pledge outlines the role that sport can play in improving the lives of refugees, including through sport programming, policy change, skill development, and communication and advocacy efforts.
Thomas Bach, IOC Honorary President and Chair of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have the International Hockey Federation joining the Sport for Refugees Coalition. International Federations play a crucial role in leading their sport forward in the protection of displaced people.
Through this initiative, the FIH will ensure the global hockey community is equipped to promote the inclusion of displaced people worldwide. We welcome the FIH to our Coalition and hope that their example will inspire other actors across the Olympic Movement to join us.”
FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “FIH is committed to building a better world through sport and to supporting development, increasing participation and improving accessibility of hockey worldwide. Today, I feel very proud to lead an organisation that has added another milestone to this bold commitment by becoming a signatory to the Joint Sport Pledge for Inclusion and Protection. I would like to commend the exceptional work done by the Olympic Refuge Foundation, and especially its Chairman, Honorary IOC President Thomas Bach.”
