Acceptance speech at the Fair Play for Peace Award ceremony

Thank you, Monsieur Housiaux, Philippe, and distinguished guests, for bestowing upon UNHCR this prestigious Fair Play for Peace Award.

It is an honor to stand here today, in this historic Gothic Hall, following in the footsteps of Berit Reiss-Andersen, President of the Norwegian Committee for the Nobel Peace Prize, who was the first recipient of this award last year on behalf of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.

I am proud to accept this award on behalf of UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and on behalf of the millions of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and other human rights abuses.

For refugees, sport, like many aspects of their lives, presents tremendous challenges. Many face enormous obstacles just to reach the starting line, let alone win medals or honors. Unfortunately, their circumstances are not improving.

As many of you know, this year, UNHCR and its partners recorded the highest number of people forced to flee worldwide: 120 million individuals. These are people who have crossed international borders or been displaced within their own countries to escape persecution, war, violence, and human rights violations.

Behind this grim statistic lies the reality of 120 million human stories—children, women, men, and older people who dream of one day returning home to a better life. In the meantime, when given the opportunity to be included, they contribute significantly to the communities that generously host them.

This brings me to the essence of the award we accept today. In the generosity of communities hosting those forced to flee, we see the true spirit of fair play. Fair play is not just a concept in sports; it’s an attitude and behavior that teaches tolerance and respect for others. It is evident when communities welcome refugees, allowing them to integrate and feel a sense of belonging. When we act in the spirit of fair play, we help build a more peaceful and better world.

We see this spirit of fair play here in Brussels, home to many European institutions, through initiatives like the European Commission’s Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Asylum and Migration. Fair and swift asylum procedures in the EU are crucial to ensure that refugees can quickly integrate and contribute to the communities that welcome them, including through sports. We want refugees to have the same opportunities, rights, and access to facilities as everyone else. This is why Europe is such a vital partner for UNHCR.

Fair play also means looking beyond Europe’s borders to ensure that our partners worldwide have the resources they need for protection and solutions—whether through humanitarian and development funding or by engaging the private sector.

Since we are here to talk about sport, I must mention some recent remarkable examples of fair play. At the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have seen what refugees can achieve when given a level playing field and the opportunity to pursue their talents. This year, 45 refugee athletes and para-athletes competed on the global stage, and I was fortunate to be in Paris to witness their incredible achievements.

These young people have overcome immense challenges and shown us all that it is possible to aim high and achieve their dreams. It was thrilling to see Cindy Ngamba win the first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team in boxing and to watch Zakia Khudadadi and Guillaume Junior Atangana of the Refugee Paralympic Team win bronze medals in taekwondo and athletics. As Zakia said, “This medal is for all the refugees in the world.”

These achievements were made possible through our partnerships with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, sports federations, and many others who have supported refugee athletes. We are eager to strengthen these programs and see even more success in the future.

But fair play is not only about elite athletes. Sport is a powerful tool that UNHCR uses to foster inclusion, well-being, and more socially cohesive and peaceful communities. It helps millions of refugees of all ages and abilities heal. Engaging in sport can create a sense of belonging, help refugees feel included, and facilitate their integration into host communities. Sport brings joy and provides an escape from daily worries, offering a sense of normalcy amid great disruption.

Sport also has the power to break down cultural barriers, bringing individuals and communities together. It can be a vehicle for building lasting friendships, changing negative attitudes and perceptions, and fostering more peaceful societies.

Recognizing this potential, UNHCR launched its first-ever Global Sport Strategy in 2022, called “More than a Game.” In line with the values of fair play, “More than a Game” is built on the principles of inclusion, accountability, a human rights-based approach, and partnership. The strategy outlines how, by working together, UNHCR and the world of sport can improve the lives of refugees through greater access to sport and play-based programs, access to elite opportunities, and through communication and advocacy.

Our engagement in sport is about much more than training future Olympians or providing enjoyable activities—although these are very important. It is about partnering with and mobilizing an entire network of organizations with the capacity to protect, respond, empower, include, and find solutions for people forced to flee. This is what fair play looks like.

That is why receiving this award here today means so much. Your movement embodies the values of fair play, tolerance, and cooperation that we strive to foster in our work around the world as we protect and build a better future for people forced to flee their homes—including through the power of sports.

Thank you very much.