GLOBAL WATCH INITIATIVES

In the short history of Doha GOALS, many key issues related to social change and sport have been exposed, addressed and attacked. However, sport has long suffered other, more problematic afflictions that need combating: racism, discrimination and hate. In order to properly attack this insipid threat, the Doha GOALS Foundation, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and South African activist Tokyo Sexwale, is proud to announce the Global Watch initiative, an international effort to eradicate the evils of racism and discrimination from fields, courts and playgrounds the world over.

The brainchild of Sexwale, Global Watch was put into effect at a meeting of political and athletic leaders in Doha in early June. Already, influencers from Al Gore to Oprah Winfrey, Desmond Tutu and FIFA president Sepp Blatter have thrown their support behind the initiative. These early sponsors, as well as all others who join, are crucial to rallying support for this worthy cause.

Soon, Global Watch will draft a charter statement aimed at the interconnection of grassroots movements, collective anti-discrimination efforts and top-down philanthropic movements to put sport on the leading edge of societal equality and competitive fairness.

Each day we witness the power of sport to draw people together and form a collective union. It works at the family, community and national level. Sport represents an opportunity not just to coach but to teach. It is our responsibility to shape sport for the good, eliminating the forces of discrimination -- racism, gender bias, religious discrimination and hate speech -- and returning sport to its core values. Sport has been called the great equalizer; unfortunately, participants haven’t always been treated equally. With the Global Watch initiative, we aim to give athletes of all levels and ages a chance to change that.