Sport once again emerged as a common language amid one of the world’s most persistent humanitarian crises. In Geneva, during the Progress Review of the Global Refugee Forum, the voice of the Olympic Movement rose to remind that physical activity is not an add-on, but a tool of dignity and hope for millions of people forced to flee their homes.
In that setting, Thomas Bach, Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee and of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, underscored the collective responsibility to strengthen support for displaced communities. His call to honor the legacy of Filippo Grandi, by ensuring that sport reaches every refugee, set the tone for a gathering marked by urgency, but also by the conviction that collaboration between sport and humanitarian action can generate real and sustainable change.
From solidarity to collective action
This year’s Forum was rich in symbolism. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, opened his final official event after a decade at the helm of UNHCR with an honest message about the rise in forced displacement and the fragility of the humanitarian sector. Yet, far from giving in to discouragement, he insisted that solidarity remains a vital factor, capable of saving lives when translated into concrete commitments.
That spirit was echoed by Bach in the closing plenary session, where he highlighted the relationship between UNHCR and the world of sport as a unique collaboration. Over the years, this alliance has given shape to milestones such as the creation of the Refugee Olympic Team and the consolidation of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, demonstrating that sport can offer more than competition: it can offer identity, structure, and a support network for those who have lost almost everything.
Cities and communities as engines of inclusion
One of the Forum’s most significant announcements was the commitment by the Olympic Refuge Foundation to allocate USD 2.25 million to a new partnership with the Mayors Migration Council. The initiative aims to support several cities through multi-year grants, integrating sport and physical activity into resettlement processes, with accessible spaces and local programs that strengthen social cohesion.
From the perspective of local governments, sport emerges as a close and tangible tool. This was emphasized by Jamal Haddad, councilor of Ramallah, who highlighted the importance of supporting city-led actions for the inclusion of refugees. In parallel, voices such as Masomah Ali Zada, Head of Mission of the Refugee Olympic Team, recalled that the impact of sport is measured in personal stories of integration and belonging, but also in the need to go further and recognize its value within global humanitarian responses.
