Morocco Champions Sport in Migration: A New Global Movement
Morocco has stepped onto the international stage with a groundbreaking initiative intertwining sports and migration governance, aspiring to craft a new narrative around inclusion and cooperation. The country announced the launch of the “Group of Friends for Sport and Migration,” a noble effort that aims to transform how migration is perceived and managed globally.
Unveiling the Vision
The announcement was made by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, in New York. He emphasized sports as a significant tool for social inclusion and strategic migration governance. Sports, according to Bourita, transcend mere leisure – on the field, migrants are teammates, human beings, and talents. This initiative was introduced at a high-level event during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, co-hosted with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Lessons from the Field
Bourita highlighted the invaluable lessons sports offer: natural integration, adaptation of universal rules to local contexts, and the flourishing of international cooperation. These facets provide a useful model for amplifying inclusion and constructing a positive narrative around migration. Morocco’s own experience at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, showcasing diaspora players, underscored how integration enriches both host and origin countries.
Building a Collaborative Platform
The “Group of Friends” initiative promises to be more than a dialogue – it aims to foster practical cooperation among states, international organizations, the International Olympic Committee, sports federations, and civil society. Their mission: to share knowledge, promote best practices, and develop joint initiatives to advance social inclusion for migrants.
From Vision to Action
Participants agreed to transition from vision to action by exploring pilot programs that integrate sport into migration governance, emphasizing youth inclusion and ethical sport recruitment. These experimental programs will act as scalable models for wider application.
Aligning with Global Migration Efforts
The initiative aligns with the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and marks preparation for the Second International Migration Review Forum in 2026. This alignment ensures sports’ role in social inclusion and migration governance is integrated into future multilateral frameworks.
Shared Commitment to Progress
As the event wrapped up, Morocco and the IOM reiterated their commitment to continuing this crucial dialogue. Together, they stressed that the unique contributions of sport to inclusion and governance must be a cornerstone in international cooperation efforts, adding a vibrant chapter to the global movement for migration and sport.
The initiative represents a beacon of hope in integrating sports with migration policies, potentially setting a precedent for impactful cooperation across the globe. As stated in Morocco World News.
