Honorable Minister Nasser Bourita,
Distinguished IOM Director-General Amy Pope,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
I am pleased to join you at this event on “Sport as a Tool for Social Inclusion and Migration Governance”.
I thank the Permanent Mission of Morocco and the International Organization for Migration for convening this event. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of leaders, colleagues, and partners from various sectors, including governments, civil society, sports community, and academia. Your collective efforts are crucial for advancing the sport for development and peace agenda.
With 304 million people living outside their country of birth, migration, whether voluntary or forced, is a defining feature of the current global context.
While it brings incredible opportunity and diversity, migration also presents challenges to social cohesion, identity, and equitable access to opportunities.
This is where sport comes in. Sport is a universal language —an arena where differences fade and we can express and be understood beyond words and language.
Sport is not only a means of recreation, but a powerful tool to build bridges, foster belonging, raise resilience, and support mental and physical well-being.
This is why the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration emphasizes multicultural activities, including sports, as a cornerstone of inclusive societies.
Under its objective 16 “Empower migrants and societies to realize full inclusion and social cohesion”, the Global Compact explicitly calls on Member States to:
“Support multicultural activities through sports, music, arts, culinary festivals, volunteering and other social events that will facilitate mutual understanding and appreciation of migrant cultures and those of destination communities.”
Athletes with migrant backgrounds play a key role in challenging negative stereotypes about migration, showcasing the contributions of migrants to host societies.
They also highlight the importance of inclusion and enhancing the availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration.
Research confirms that migrants who participate in community sport programmes are more likely to build social networks, find employment, and feel integrated into their new homes. These benefits are especially profound among marginalized groups such as women and refugees, who often face the greatest barriers to inclusion.
Yet, not all migrants have equal access to sport. Obstacles such as discrimination, legal barriers, and a lack of resources can exclude those who stand to benefit the most.
This is why inclusive, sport-based policies matter. We must ensure good governance and policies that provides inclusive, equitable access to sport for everyone, especially for the people most in need —and leave no one behind.
Let us use this event as an opportunity to strengthen our partnerships and truly leverage the power of sport for social inclusion and effective migration governance.
Thank you.