The delegation’s trip to Israel was a significant event organized by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the German Football League (DFL). The visit aimed to highlight the global sports community’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism and promote remembrance and education. During their visit, the delegation met with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Tel Aviv, participated in an evening rally in Hostage Square, and visited Kibbutz Kfar Gaza in the south of the country, where they were hosted by the family of Neta Epstein, a victim of a tragic attack.
The delegation expressed pride in leading this visit to Israel, emphasizing that sports can be a catalyst for change and a beacon of hope. With participation from both organizations, they aimed to honor and remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust while combatting anti-Semitism and promoting tolerance.
In conjunction with the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, two sports-related initiatives were announced by the World Jewish Congress. “Football and Remembrance” connects Euro 2024 participants with Holocaust history, while “Soccer and Memory” uses sport as a bridge to the past. Additionally, an exhibition called “Sports. Audiences. Power.” explores how sports have been used under National Socialism as well as how they can be used to fight against anti-Semitism during this time coincides with UEFA Euro 2024 tournament.
Overall, this visit serves as a reminder that sports have played an important role in shaping history and that it is essential for us to use them as a tool for positive change.
