The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strengthened its commitment to displaced communities by joining the Sport for Refugees Coalition, an alliance that brings together more than 65 organizations in a global call to reinforce the role of sport in the protection and inclusion of people forced to flee their homes. At a time when forced displacement exceeds 120 million people worldwide, this step carries special significance, as it recognizes the power of sport as a bridge to dignity, safety, and belonging. For the IOC and the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), this is not just a statement; it is an urgent message about the need to act with greater determination in the face of an increasingly critical humanitarian landscape.
That determination was reflected in the joint signing of a declaration issued by the Coalition ahead of the upcoming Progress Review of the Global Refugee Forum, which will take place in Geneva from December 15 to 17. The document, supported by National Olympic Committees, International Federations, non-governmental organizations, and institutions dedicated to sport for development, urges governments, humanitarian bodies, and sports actors to recognize and invest in sport within displacement contexts, integrate this tool throughout all Forum spaces, expand refugee community leadership, and strengthen local partnerships. It is a call to stop underestimating a resource capable of transforming life trajectories, especially within systems that are increasingly overwhelmed.
A global call to integrate sport into humanitarian responses
The Coalition highlights that despite progress since its launch at the Global Refugee Forum in 2019, sport continues to be undervalued within humanitarian action frameworks. For this reason, the declaration sets clear priorities aimed at expanding its impact and establishing more systematic integration into responses to displacement. The IOC, with a long-standing commitment to defending sport as a tool for inclusion, reinforces this vision and drives the need for coordinated action that incorporates non-traditional actors—especially in a context of declining global solidarity where displaced people face greater barriers.
The work of the ORF and its international partners shows that this effort is not limited to theory: thousands of refugees have gained access to safe sports programs that offer not only physical activity but also spaces for emotional and community protection. The Coalition recognizes that in times of growing uncertainty, sport can be a crucial support for those whose environments have been fractured, and that strengthening these mechanisms is a shared responsibility among public, private, humanitarian, and sports sectors.
An international network driving real change
Founded by the IOC and UNHCR before the 2019 Global Forum and jointly convened by the ORF, UNHCR, and the Scort Foundation, the Coalition has grown to more than 170 members. Its mission has been to promote sport as a tool for protection and inclusion for people affected by displacement, through initiatives ranging from coach training to the creation of safe spaces. In 2023, the IOC presented the Multistakeholder Pledge for Sport, intended to benefit half a million displaced people with an investment of 45 million US dollars, reflecting the scale and ambition of this collaboration.
Progress since the last Global Refugee Forum shows the tangible impact of this work: more than 529,000 people have received support through sports programs in 92 countries, more than 11,000 coaches have been trained to offer inclusive and safe activities, and over 160 sports facilities have been created or renovated. These actions reveal how sport, when integrated strategically and humanely, can open paths to protection, connect communities, and sustain hope where previously there was only uncertainty.
