Experiences and best practices for Combating Racism Through Sport at International, Regional, National and Local Levels
The state of Qatar had expressed its support to combat any practice of racism and discrimination between people by ratifying several UN conventions against racism such as the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination which the state of Qatar had ratified in 1976 and the 1973 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid that was ratified in 1975, and the most recently Qatar had ratified the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
On an international level, Qatar had supported and ratified many international declarations and treaties that combat any form of discrimination and racism. In regards to sports, the state had ratified the 1985 International Convention against Apartheid in Sports.
Qatar has undertaken the issue of racism in consideration and guaranteed combating racisms in its national constitution and vision (QNV2030) and that had reflected on all level of the country's activities and practices, including sports.
The national constitution that was emended in 2003 and put into action in 2004, states clearly in article 35 that "All persons are equal before the law and there shall be no discrimination whatsoever on grounds of sex, race, language, or religion". The constitution lays the basic foundations of the society, regulates the State's authorities, embodies the public participation in governance and ensures the rights and freedom of Qatari citizens.
The Qatar National Vision 2030, which was introduced in 2008 as the main vision of the country's development and achievements, is built on a society that promotes justice, benevolence and equality. The Vision embodies the principles of the Permanent Constitution which:
• Protects public and personal freedoms;
• Promotes moral and religious values and traditions; and,
• Guarantees security, stability and equal opportunities.
The Vision emphasized that its desired social development must consider the sponsorship and support of dialogue among civilization by promoting coexistence between different religions and cultures.
Based on the national constitution and the National Vision 2030, Sport practice in Qatar is open to all nationalities. In fact, not only is it accessible to amateurs of all origins but even the high level athletes of Qatar come from different backgrounds and origins.
Even though racial discrimination in sport is not an issue in Qatar, the issue is addressed by the Qatar Olympic Committee. This organization is the main coordinator of sports practice in Qatar. Founded in 1979, its motto is to make Qatar a “leading nation in bridging the world together through sports”.[1]
The mission of the Qatar Olympic Committee is to put sport and physical recreation activity everywhere in Qatar so as to have harmonious development of men and women in a true Olympic spirit and in accordance with the Olympic Charter[2]
In its strategic framework, QOC commits to promote access to sports for all, to take action against all forms of discrimination and violence, to encourage the sense of understanding, love and friendship among youth through sports, to strengthen ties of friendship and respect among the Qatari athletes and their counterpart in other nations.[3]
On a local level, QOC is building and supporting community programs across the country to promote the participation and enjoyment of sport by all generation’s[4].also the National and local sport teams in Qatar consist of players from different nationalities and backgrounds.
The QOC has also an educational mission to promote ethical values and principles in the community. To achieve this goal they have a Cultural and Educational program addressed to the youth. Its main goal is to use sports in bettering the Qatari society and teaching values of respect, equality, peace etc.[5]
Qatar is also the host of many international tournaments such as the AFC Asian Cup in 2011, 2015 Handball World Cup, FIFA 2022 etc. The QOC through those events is also applying its vision and objectives. By doing so it’s playing a role in promoting its values internationally and locally.
[1] http://www.olympic.qa/en/AboutQOC/Pages/Our-Vision.aspx
[2] http://www.olympic.qa/en/AboutQOC/Pages/StrategicFramework.aspx
[3] http://www.olympic.qa/en/AboutQOC/Pages/StrategicFramework.aspx
[4] http://www.olympic.qa/en/Community/Pages/Olympic-Community-Programs.aspx
[5] http://www.olympic.qa/en/Community/Pages/Qatar-Olympic-Cultural-and-Education-Program.aspx