PAE Aris at the UNHRC Forum

The update of Mars

Senior officials and representatives of leading European Football Organizations joined on Wednesday (29/03), with the power of sport to combat anti-Semitism, at the forum of the World Jewish Congress, which took place within the framework of a session of the Human Rights Council of the O.H. E. in Geneva and coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The forum themed: “Fighting Anti-Semitism in and out of Sport”, also marked the launch of a long-term initiative of the World Jewish Congress: “Fighting Anti-Semitism in Sport”, which establishes anti-Semitism as an independent field of action in the awards work in sports, both at amateur and professional levels.

At Wednesday’s event, speakers from the European Commission, the UN Human Rights Council, UNESCO and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), UK Government Adviser on Anti-Semitism, Lord John Mann and representatives from a range of top clubs including Chelsea FC, Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord Rotterdam and ARIS FC looked back on the history of anti-hate initiatives in sport and discussed the value of partnerships between clubs, leagues, governments and the World Jewish Congress to fight against hate in all its forms.

Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission for the Promotion of the European Way of Life, said:

“Today’s debate and the WJC’s initiative to combat anti-Semitism in sport and society could not be more timely. Anti-Semitism is unfortunately on the rise again across Europe and football is not immune to this phenomenon.”

Theodoris Theodoridis, General Secretary of UEFA, emphasized:

“Our door is open. I’m here to make it very clear: Use us and we’ll help you get educated and raise awareness of activities going forward.”

Following the recent joint commemoration of Julius Hirsch, a former German national team player, who was murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Borussia Dortmund’s Daniel Loercher and Simon Taylor, director of the Chelsea Foundation, presented how their respective clubs have raised local awareness Jewish communities and their followers about the dangers of hatred.

Irini Karipidis, President and CEO of PAE ARIS, explained the association’s support for the development of the study and construction of the city’s Holocaust Museum.

Steven Berger of Feyenoord Rotterdam shared how his club works with various Dutch Fan Clubs to bring supporters to memorial sites and raise awareness of the impact of anti-Semitism.

The forum was organized with the support of the UN missions of Argentina, Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, of the United States, the European Union and UNESCO.

Working actively with international football clubs, the WJC has harnessed and reduced sport as an important platform to tackle racism, discrimination and anti-Semitism across society.

The new WJC initiative will monitor activities and collate existing knowledge, while acting as an advisory body to stakeholders both within and outside of sport, including those in political life, Associations, Jewish communities and organizations and academia space.

Potential partners will also be trained in capacity building and a funding program will enable those interested to implement their own projects.

“Combating Antisemitism in Sport” is a partnership between the WJC and WhatMatters, a German NGO.

Speaking on behalf of the new initiative, Dr Andreas Kahrs, said: “Under our umbrella, we will work through three pillars: combating anti-Semitism, commemorating the Holocaust and highlighting the legacy of Jewish athletes in relation to their contribution to sport”.

He added: “We will also need your help. We need the commitment of partners and organizations to develop and advance new projects.”

THE SPEECH OF PEACE KARYPIDIS

“As President and CEO of PAE ARIS, one of the most historic and popular football teams in Greece, it is an honor to talk to you about the charity match we organized with Maccabi Haifa FC, our friends from Israel , with the aim of raising funds for the establishment of the new Holocaust Museum of Greece.

I would like to thank the World Jewish Congress for the invitation. I am grateful as I have the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions with all of you today. I would also like to express my appreciation to the World Jewish Congress for its support of the initiative.

I would like to begin, therefore, by referring to the history and importance of the Jewish community in Thessaloniki. For centuries, Thessaloniki was known as the “Jerusalem of the Balkans”, due to the strong Jewish presence. The Jewish community played a crucial role in the city’s economy and culture and formed one of the most active and diverse Jewish communities in the world.

As President and CEO of PAE ARIS, I felt an obligation to honor the Jewish heritage of Thessaloniki and support the local Jewish community. That’s why we thought of organizing a charity match between PAE ARIS and Maccabi Haifa FC.

PAE ARIS was founded by Christians and Jews of Thessaloniki in 1914 and has always been a symbol of diversity, tolerance and solidarity in Greek society. Maccabi Haifa FC is one of the most successful Israeli football teams and has had a long-standing relationship with PAE ARIS since 1979.

We wanted this match to be an opportunity to celebrate our friendship, raise public awareness of the tragedy of the Holocaust and support a noble cause: the new Holocaust Museum of Greece.

The entire organization and execution of the event was not an easy task. We were faced with many challenges, but also opportunities, such as securing sponsorships, administration, media coverage, security measures, etc.

However, with the help of the local authorities, the Jewish community of Thessaloniki, the World Jewish Congress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece and other partners, we managed to organize a successful and meaningful fight.

The match raised a significant amount of money for the new Holocaust Museum of Greece and was the subject of extensive media coverage both locally and internationally.

The race, above all, managed to unite people from different backgrounds, cultures and religions in a spirit of friendship, sportsmanship and solidarity. He reminded us that football can be a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance and human rights education.

The new Holocaust Museum of Greece is expected to open in 2024 in Thessaloniki and will be a state-of-the-art educational and cultural center that will highlight the history and tradition of the Jewish community of Thessaloniki as well as the tragedy of the Holocaust and its aftermath.

We, at ARIS, are committed to using sport as a tool to promote peace, tolerance and human rights education. We have already taken some steps to address the issue of anti-Semitism in and through professional football by signing the World Jewish Congress’s Declaration on Combating Anti-Semitism in Football and participating in the international #WeRemember campaign.

We must continue to work together as a community, as a team, to fight all forms of discrimination and hatred, not only in football but in all aspects of our lives. We must actively promote education and awareness about the Holocaust and other atrocities so that future generations can learn from the mistakes of the past and work towards a better future.

In conclusion, the match between PAE ARIS and Maccabi Haifa FC was not just a match, but a statement of our values ​​and our commitment to a better world.

It became a symbol of hope and solidarity in a time of uncertainty and division. At the same time, it was a reminder of the importance of not forgetting the past and always fighting for a fairer and more inclusive future.”