Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism'

In the last decades, many terrorist attacks were perpetrated in public places against soft targets. Attacks occurring during sports events are particularly hideous as sports have historically played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values across civilizations and cultures, especially for young people.

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and in consultation with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), joined forces and launched  the 'Global Programme on Security of Major Sporting Events, and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism'. 

The Global programme aims to develop and adopt advanced policies and practices to enhance the security of major sporting events while promoting the use of sport and its values as a tool to prevent violent extremism. The initiative will envisage activities to raise awareness within Member States on the threats to the security of major sporting events and the opportunities to mitigate them. The project also aims to create legacies and strengthen capacities at a national, regional and international level to help make major sporting events more secure and promote the value of sport as a common good and an opportunity for the international community.