'A missed opportunity' says ISCA president Mogens Kirkeby

The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 was launched in Ljubljana 8 January. At the same time seven 'Flagship Projects', supported by the European Commission, were highlighted and promoted. None of the 'Flagship Projects' has a starting point in one of the most popular and widespread civil society sectors - the sport sector.

"It is an unfortunate missed opportunity not to support and highlight the sport sectors capacity to assist intercultural dialogue and integration", says Mogens Kirkeby.

"It is the goal to make a grass-root oriented campaign year in 2008. What is more grass-root oriented and widespread than this civil society sector - the sport sector. The sector - especially 'sport for all' - has operational structures locally, nationally an internationally and with more that 70 million Europeans directly involved. In 2000 the Commission stressed the importance of sport as a tool for social integration of young people and estimated the sector as one of the biggest youth movements in Europe. We know from Eurobarometer surveys, that almost three in four European Union citizens view sport as a means of promoting the integration and that sport is perceived as a means to fight against discrimination, according to two thirds of European citizens."

"The 'Flagship projects' were an opportunity to promote and inspire the different sectors having potential to make local, national and international interventions during 2008 and beyond. It has important demonstrational value and the Commission should have used this opportunity more pro-active by ensuring major sectors were promoted. At the same time it would have demonstrated positive inter-sectoral cooperation within the European Commission", concludes Mogens Kirkeby.

On the 22^nd of January the Italian Minister of Health – Mrs Livia Turco – signed an agreement protocol together with a group of Italian associations involved in sport promotion activity: UISP, US ACLI and CSI. This document is focused on the synergy in communication and it is an important example of cooperation between an ISCA member and official institutions.

For further information please click on the following link:http://www.isca-web.org/english/news/italianministerofhealth

The capital of Denmark is opening itself to 3 days of fun throughout the city. MOVIN’ CPH will give a new meaning to the expression ‘use the city’. From 2^nd to 4^th May 2008, Copenhagen lightens up to spark new trends within gymnastics, fitness and wellness. This major international sports event, MOVIN’ CPH 2008, is an interchanging program offering workshops, displays and happenings all around the city.

Find out more about the event:

http://www.movincph.dk/uk/frontpage

The Fédération Internationale d’Inter-Crosse (FIIC) invites you to take part in the 20th edition of the FIIC Intercrosse World Games.

The World Games is an FIIC sponsored event held annually in July-August since 1985.

The tournament is played with mixed teams (men and women play together). The World Games aim to increase communication between intercrosse players world-wide and at the same time offer players a forum to learn about the game, both socially and technically.

The World Games will be held in Prievidza, Slovakia, August 5-10. 2008. The registration deadline is the 30^th April 2008

For further information please go to the folloiwng link:

http://www.isca-web.org/english/events/thefiicintercrosseworldgames2008

Your initiatives and comments are wanted!

ISCA will during 2008 publish comments, experiences, projects within the field of Intercultural Dialogue or Integration through Sport. Please let us know about your experiences.

Please send your comments and initiatives within the field of Integration and Intercultural Dialogue to e-mail info@isca-web.org

See ISCA comments and project examples at:

http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.org/

http://www.integrationthroughsport.org/

Resource links

European year of Intercultural Dialogue. See more at the European Commission web site: http://www.dialogue2008.eu/

Intercultural dialogue is a priority of UNESCO. Please see more information at - UNESCO web sites:

http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11406&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html 

http://www.portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=10474&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

ISCA wants to hear from your open events. Let us know about your international projects and events which are open to public participation.

If you have such information you would like to share please write a description and add a link or contact details and send it to info@isca-web.org

Please ensure the email is entitled: Sharing events