With Children Win, Terre des Hommes has launched a project that addresses the negative aspects of major sporting events on the lives of children. The aim is to hold those responsible for such events to account. In future, they should plan measures to counteract their negative consequences as early as the awarding and preparation stages.
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is history. But Brazil is now living with its aftermath: Massively shrunken budgets for education and health, curtailed rights, and thousands of people displaced from their neighborhoods and social environment. This is in stark contrast to what mega sporting events can be: Occasions that can unite people and cultures in an international, peaceful and festive competition. They do a lot of good for people. Unfortunately, however, the benefits do not accrue to everyone, as the examples of the World Cup in Brazil or South Africa prove. Children (= 0 to 18 years old) are particularly affected. Displacement and uprooting. Child labor, police violence against children, sexual exploitation: these are some of the negative consequences that have been observed in connection with such events. As a rule, however, far too few resources are earmarked to eliminate or mitigate these risks.
Taking responsibility
The International Federation Terre des Hommes (IFTDH), with the support of the Oak Foundation, has therefore launched the Children Win project, which is headed by Marianne Meier, sports scientist and member of the terre des hommes schweiz board: Children Win aims to promote public awareness of these aspects and build up social pressure on those responsible for awarding and planning major sporting events. In future, measures against these risks are to be planned from the outset when awarding and organizing events. Terre des Hommes is not interested in demonizing sport or global sporting events. With Children Win, we want to change the rules of the game for major sporting events in favour of children, emphasizes Ignacio Packer, Secretary General of IFTDH.
News, information and support
At www.childrenwin.org, Terre des Hommes publishes news, social investigative journalism, expert reports and materials on the impact of mega sporting events on children’s lives. In addition, children report on the impact of these events on their lives in a teaser and short films about the World Cup in Brazil and South Africa. Terre des Hommes also encourages media professionals to include children’s concerns in their coverage of such events. To this end, Terre des Hommes, in collaboration with the Keeping Children Safe organization, has developed a specific guide for media professionals for this year’s World Cup. This offers support and important advice on reporting and working together.
The World Cup in Brazil is history, but the work to protect children and young people in the vicinity of major sporting events has just begun. Terre des Hommes is staying tuned. There are only two years to go until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro…
