Sports and PVE

Sport is universally recognized as a powerful tool to promote diversity, gender equality, respect, tolerance and other values which support positive relationships between people, regardless of their faith, race or culture. Sport pushes people to be better, to aim higher and further. It strengthens communities and channels natural competitive instincts in a harmonious way. As UNOCT continues to focus on initiatives that address the underlying conditions conducive to violent extremism, there are several allies who embody the power of sport and its values.

The UNOCT-led Global Sports Programme engages with Member States to use sport within PVE and social cohesion efforts. A Guide for Policymakers for The Use of Sport for the Prevention of Violent Extremism was issued in 2023 accompanied by a A Handbook to maximize on the impact of Major Sporting Events for PVE goals.

Civil Society and Youth Empowerment through Sport

Between 2020-2023, the Global Sports Programme established a grant mechanism for civil society organizations (CSOs) to support the implementation of community-level projects on sports values for PVE, with a specific focus on youth-led organisations. Learn more about success stories and results of sport-based PVE initiatives led by CSOs across 4 continents

Global initiative launched to keep top sports events safe from terrorism

Representatives from international sporting federations and the private sector ambassadors at UN Headquarters in New York to launch UNOCT’s global programme to safeguarding major sporting events from terrorism-related threats. Read more at UN News.

Virtual High-level Meeting Promoting Sport and Its Values as a Tool to PVE to mark the Programme’s launch in 2020
Series of regional and global-level fora on youth engagement in PVE strategies initiated by an in 2021. For an example of one of the Programme’s fora, please click here.
“High-Level Round Table on the Protection of Major Sporting Events and the use of Sports’ Values for the Prevention of Violent Extremism” co-hosted by the State of Qatar on the margins of the Doha Forum (27 March 2022).
In partnership with the , the Global Sports Programme launched the #MoreThanAGame campaign, highlighting stories of professional athletes and young people whose lives have been changed through sport.
Virtual Roundtable on the Power of Sport to PVE to commemorate the first International Day for PVE (13 February 2023). Read more at .