By Tiffany Williams –
Wednesday morning the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) announced its partnership with the United Nations (U.N.) and the Eradicate Hate Global Summit.
In a statement Wednesday morning about the the partnership, FSG talked about the reason for the partnership and said it is “To use its platforms, partnerships, and teams to help the U.N.’s Office on Genocide Prevention counter hate speech and hate-fueled extremism through the power of sports.”
Talking about what the program is, FSG said “The program is a collaboration with leagues and teams from around the world who have come together to create a Sports Working Group charged with developing best practices that sports organizations and communities can activate to combat hate.”
“Countering hate speech is a priority for the United Nations, and we want to create a global movement that teams and athletes can use to carry the anti-hate torch,” said Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide. “Sports is a powerful unifier that is both personal yet also universal and shared. We believe it can make a difference for fans to hear their favorite athletes, teams, and leagues speak with a unified voice condemning hate-fueled extremism.”
“For over a year, Fenway Sports Group has been working alongside the U.N. and the Eradicate Hate Global Summit to activate and connect the global sports community to this important work,” said Fenway Sports Group Partner Linda Henry. “The unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty that Special Advisor Nderitu and her team at the U.N. seek to combat have their roots in hate speech – something we all have the power to help address. The global sports community wields tremendous influence that can shift viewpoints and attitudes and our goal is to help the Special Advisor by using the power of sports to break through to communities in a way that transcends borders, languages, and cultures.”
FSG says earlier this month they gathered members of the Sports Working Group in Boston to bring together representatives from the region’s professional sports teams, universities, and nonprofits. In addition to members from FSG’s sports teams (Boston Red Sox, Liverpool F.C., and Pittsburgh Penguins), also attending was the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, and New England Revolution,
“The Sports Working Group’s strength lies with its incredible partners,” said Co-Chair of the Sports Working Group and the Eradicate Hate Global Summit Laura Ellsworth. “The global reach and influence of the U.N. and the expertise and urgency of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit are a great foundation, but without our friends at Fenway Sports Group who have introduced us to sports contacts around the world, this effort would not be as strong or impactful. We encourage sports organizations who want to be part of this critical effort to join us at this year’s Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh to ensure our effort can reach as many different communities as possible.”
The Sports Working Group will convene at this year’s Eradicate Hate Global Summit taking place September 27-29 in Pittsburgh.