The Project

Hate speech in sport reflects deep-rooted social, cultural, economic, and political tensions. Combating hate speech in sport joint project, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe’s Sport Division until 30 June 2024, provided technical assistance to public authorities and relevant stakeholders in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Spain to develop comprehensive strategies within a human rights framework and ensure the visibility through the Sport IS Respect campaign.

 Campaign Concept

#SportISRespect campaign is the result of the consultation among stakeholders in the participating countries and has been launched during various sport events in each country. The campaign visual is a windmill showing a diversity of sport icons and represents the spinning energy of sport and the intimate connection between sport and early youth development. Like a windmill in the breeze, we are caught up in the game, and there’s a place for everyone. Hate breaks the game we love and stops this energy: it snaps those bonds, breaks the sails, and destroys the harmony. That’s why, for those who play and for all the others, respect is key, let’s keep sport spinning for everyone and give hate no chance to stop it: Sport IS Respect!

 Campaign Target Groups

• Internal actors: Sport practitioners, coaches, referees, sport managers.
• External actors: Fans, spectators, children, students, parents, school teachers, media, journalists, influencers, sponsors.

 #Sport IS Respect Ambassadors

The campaign provides social media content, news, and videos from the project ambassadors. The powerful stories of Aauri Lorena Bokesa Abia, Charlotte Girard Fabre, Evanthía "Evína" Máltsi, Ioannis Icarus Melissanidis, Adiaratou Iglesias and Panos Triantafyllou, represent the efforts of athletes and referees who resist hate speech daily, are amazing examples of strength and resilience and are committed to inspire young athletes.