| Thank YOU for joining the 28th TAFISA World Congress 2023! |
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| © Gonzalo Bell |
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| And it was a success!! This week 350 participants representing organisations across 70 countries and 65 speakers from 33 nations joined the 28th TAFISA World Congress in Düsseldorf, Germany, which was organised by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) together with the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia and Land Sport Federation of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Over the course of the week, Düsseldorf was the global capital of Sport for All, welcoming the Sport for All community and enthusiasts to connect, exchange and discuss how Sport for All can adapt to a changing environment and grow to be more together than ever.
Read the TAFISA World Congress 2023 Düsseldorf – Call to Action |
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| As participants started arriving on 1 November, they were greeted by volunteers and registered for the Congress. The day commenced with regional meetings of TAFISA members, providing both new and longstanding TAFISA members from different regions with a chance to connect and learn more about TAFISA’s ongoing projects, plans for the forthcoming year and progress made in past activities. Members also had the opportunity to discuss and give feedback on their experiences, needs and expectations. The day ended with a welcome dinner and artistic performances. |
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| Day 1 Highlights |
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A thought-provoking programme
The Congress was officially opened on 2 November as Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst MdL greeted participants and highlighted: «The integrative power of sport is more important than ever – sport connects, epitomises fairness, and fosters coexistence. The contribution made by sport to our society is absolutely important.»He was followed by TAFISA President Wolfgang Baumann who emphasised the power of Sport for All to bring people together: «The Congress brings together participants from more than 70 countries this week. […] It also reflects that people from different religious, ethnical, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds are meeting and celebrating together in Düsseldorf. […] Let us make the Congress also a strong manifestation and signal to bring back peace and mutual understanding to the world.» |
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| Under the theme “Sport for All: More together than ever”, the congress offered insights from over 65 international speakers, moderators, and panelists who contributed to an inspiring program.
Prof. Keith George (TAFISA Board Member, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange Liverpool John Moores University, UK), set the stage in his keynote as he addressed the current challenges in the world and how we can respond by seizing opportunities, promoting collaboration, and taking action. He emphasised the importance of intersectoral alliances to achieve common goals. Following his keynote, he joined a panel discussion moderated by TAFISA Secretary General Jean-François Laurent featuring speakers from different organisations:
- Danka Barteková, IOC Member, Slovakia
- John Wilmoth, Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development, United Nations, USA
- Thomas Weikert, DOSB President, Germany
- Catherine Forde, CANOC, TAFISA Vice President Americas, Trinidad & Tobago
- Dr Juana Willumsen, Technical Officer of WHO Physical Activity Unit, Chile
The panellists shared insights on the Congress theme: “Sport for All: More together than ever” and highlighted the power of sport to unite, break down borders and make a statement. The session ended with panellists unanimously agreeing that Sport for All should not only be an option but a mandate. This session was followed by three parallel sessions with topics rooted in the congress theme: Is Sport for All really for All?, Rethinking urban policy to foster physically active lifestyles, and Engaging the media for Sport for All.
The Programme continued in the afternoon with poster presentations across four main themes:
- Inclusion in sport: Is Sport for All really for all?,
- Active Spaces: Organising Sport for All in different settings,
- Well-being: Crafting a human-centred well-being model in Sport For All,
- Knowledge and Expertise: Qualifying the next generation of Sport for All leaders.
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A staple of TAFISA Congresses, the interactive House of Commons session then sparked debates on critical questions. Moderated by Frederik Steen and Jacqueline Kronenburg (Knowledge Centre for Sport and Physical Activity, TAFISA Board Member, Netherlands), the participants were asked to provide arguments on the two topics:
- Does Sport foster social cohesion?
- Does Sport for All have the obligation to support a global human rights movement?
The programme continued with three more parallel sessions on How can International Sport Organisations bridge the gap with grassroots sports?, Knowledge and Expertise: Qualifying the next generation of Sport for All leaders, and Fostering Girls and Women participation in Sport for All: the significance of an inclusive approach through grassroots coaching.
Learn more about the congress programme here |
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| The day concluded with the TAFISA Awards Ceremony celebrating the global Sport for All Movement’s leaders and trailblazers.
The Ceremony started off with the presentation of TAFISA ‘s most prestigious award, the Jürgen Palm Award, named after TAFISA’s late founding father.
Jürgen Palm Awards were presented to:
- Frank Busemann, Germany
- Oliver Percovich, Skateistan Founder, Australia
- Malcolm Freake OAM, Bluearth Founder, Australia
The ceremony continued with the Anita Ghosh Award, which acclaims women who have done an outstanding contribution towards the empowerment of women and girls in Sport for All in challenging environments. This year the Award was received by Khalida Popal, Girl Power Organization Founder, Afghanistan, for her outstanding work inspiring girls and women worldwide.
Check out our article on the TAFISA Awards 2023 and full list of Awardees
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| Day 2 Highlights |
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On Friday the 3 November, the morning programme commenced with a Sport for All Case Study Visits to three optional locations which included Landscape Park Duisburg-Nord, Skatepark Eller & Neighborhood Park am Hackenbruch and Germany’s biggest Swimming Club SV Bayer Uerdingen e.V.
TAFISA Members then joined the TAFISA General Assembly in the afternoon to vote on the organisation’s important topics and issues. |
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| Day 3 Highlights |
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| On 4 November, TAFISA World Congress 2023 participants partook in the “Catwalk” organised by the Catmosphere Foundation to kickstart their Saturday morning in active fashion. Catwalkers went along Düsseldorf’s Rhine riverbank to raise awareness about the importance of big cat conservation and how our wellbeing is interconnected. During the trip, participants wore masks with their favorite big cats, such as leopards, tigers or lions.
The day focused on the contribution Sport for All can make to tackle the climate crisis and the increasing number of armed conflicts throughout the world. Awareness is growing that the climate crisis is imminent and the scientific data is clear. The plenary session What role and responsibility can Sport for All play to tackle the Climate Crisis? featured a Keynote from Dr Karim Abu-Omar (Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen, Germany) who pointed out the impact of the climate crisis on the Sport for All movement: “Of course, every person gains a better quality of life with personal health. But there cannot be healthy people on a sick planet. That is why we must find a balance.». Dr Abu-Omar shared insights on the negative impact sports can have on the environment, and provided directions towards fostering sustainable Sport for All.
He then joined a Panel Discussion along with Peter Fischer (Policy Officer Sport Unit, EU Commission, Germany), Sian Tichar (Managing Director, Catmosphere, UK), Dito Ariotedjo (Minister of Youth and Sport, Indonesia), and Anton Klischewski (ENGSO Youth, Germany). |
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The afternoon comprised of three parallel sessions on topics: Practical strategies to tackle the Climate Crisis, Fostering Peace building through Sport for All, and Crafting a human-centred well-being model in Sport for All.
The day was rounded up with a plenary session on Leveling the Playing Field – Partnerships, Cooperation and Capacity-Building in Sport for All, which included a joint keynote from Dr Fiona Bull (Head of Physical Activity Unit, WHO, Australia) Ollie Dudfield (Associate Director Olympism365, IOC, Australia). The session transitioned into an interactive World Café Format led by representatives of WHO, IOC – Olympism 365, TAFISA, DOSB and GIZ, which allowed participants to share their insights, experience, and feedback on how we can better work together and build the capacity of Sport for All leaders at all levels.
Eventually, Congress Rapporteur Prof. Dr Gudrun Doll-Tepper (Professor of Sport Science / Inclusive Education, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany) condensed the three days of panels, discussions, debates, speeches, and parallel sessions in her Congress conclusions, emphasising how far the Sport for All Movement has come.TAFISA World Congress 2023 Düsseldorf – Call to Action
The 28th TAFISA World Congress – Düsseldorf 2023 Call to Action reflecting on the Congress learnings and feedback from speakers and participants was presented to the participants. The Call to Action was read by Michaela Röhrbein (TAFISA World Congress Organising Committee Chair, DOSB Executive Board Member, Germany) and Keenese Katisenge Tizhani (Botswana National Sports Council, TAFISA Vice President Africa, Botswana) and signed by TAFISA and the Organising Committee comprised of DOSB, State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Land Sport Federation of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Read the Call to Action |
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Michaela Röhrbein and Keneese Katisenge Tizani read the Call to Action. © DOSB
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| TAFISA thanks the 40 volunteers who have made the event possible. © Gonzalo Bell |
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| Day 4 Highlights |
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| Thank YOU!
TAFISA extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the participants who gathered in Germany and enriched the Congress with their presence. You, the participants, played a pivotal role in making this event truly exceptional. Furthermore, TAFISA expresses its special appreciation to the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the Land Sport Federation of North-Rhine Westphalia, and the State Chancellery of North-Rhine Westphalia for their exceptional efforts in organising this remarkable event, enabling all participants to savor an outstanding and memorable experience.
Stay tuned as we’ll share more Congress highlights in the days to come!
You can (re)live the Congress through the highlights video posted on the official TAFISA Congress YouTube channel. |
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