Sarajevo, (Fena) – The second phase of the collaborative initiative between the European Union and the Council of Europe, titled “Block Hate. Share Love! 2.0,” commenced on Thursday, August 21, with a children’s football tournament held at the FK Sloga stadium in Vukosavlje. This event gathered boys and girls from five municipalities to advocate for diversity, equality, and inclusion.
The atmosphere at FK Sloga stadium transformed into a vibrant celebration of diversity and inclusion, filled with cheers, colorful banners promoting friendship, and mixed-gender teams on the pitch.
Participants from Vukosavlje, Modriča, Šamac, Brod, and Odžak were organized into teams with names such as Tolerance, Equality, Respect, Diversity, Solidarity, and Inclusion, embodying the message that unity and respect triumph both on and off the field.
The tournament was inaugurated by Vukosavlje’s Mayor, Zekerijah Bahić, who expressed support for the initiative within his community.
– My goal is to ensure that Vukosavlje is a place where every child can flourish and is never subjected to hate speech. Sports have the potential to bring us together across all divides, including gender, ethnicity, skin color, disability, and various identities – stated Bahić.
Kemo Sarač, Assistant Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighted that acknowledging diversity is fundamental to understanding and valuing human rights and basic freedoms.
– The more we are prepared to respect others, the better prepared we are for a democratic society – remarked Sarač.
Adis Osmanović, an expert advisor for European integration and international cooperation in sports at the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reiterated the Ministry’s dedication to fostering unity, tolerance, and mutual respect as core values that encapsulate the true essence of sports.
– Together, we can uphold the integrity of sports and leverage its unique ability to promote peace, cooperation, and national pride – stated Osmanović.
Ajna Karić from the Odžak 102 women’s football club expressed that girls are certainly capable of excelling in football, and she is pleased that the village of Jakeš was able to host such an event. (22.08.)
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