Wednesday, 25 June 2025 – As part of the SC:ORE initiative (Sport against Crime: Outreach, Resilience, Empowerment of At-Risk Youth), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) hosted an crucial session exploring how sport can meaningfully contribute to multi-sectoral partnerships for violence and crime prevention.
In this session, hundreds of global leaders and experts came together to discuss the vital role of the sport sector in youth crime prevention. The webinar featured insights from senior representatives of the IOC, NBA Africa, adidas Foundation, and national sport authorities, each bringing their perspectives and expertise to the table.
A High-Level Panel
Among the keynote speakers was UTS President Stephan Fox, who also serves as General Secretary of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) and President of the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS).
Other keynote speakers included:
- Mr. Nils Holmegaard, Senior Project Manager, Promotion of Olympic Values Unit, IOC
- Mr. Mthoko Madonda, Director of Social Responsibility & Player Programs, NBA Africa
- Ms. Sara König, Special Advisor, Community Engagement, Adidas Foundation
- Mr. Roberto Ortiz Vega, Director of Special Projects, Mexican National Commission for Physical Education and Sport (CONADE)
Together, they engaged in a deep and impactful discussion aimed at sharing promising practices, strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation, and promoting sport as a pillar of community-based crime prevention strategies, offering youth, especially those from vulnerable environments, alternatives paths to crime and violence. The webinar was attended by representatives from international federations, civil society, academia, and government institutions. Several UTS Young Leaders also joined the session.
The Role of Sport
President Fox highlighted the transformative power of sport in building resilience and guiding youth away from violence and crime. Sharing his own journey and several initiatives implemented by IFMA, he discussed how martial arts instill structure, emotional regulation, and a sense of belonging, which can be key to both prevention and rehabilitation.
He reaffirmed UTS’s commitment to uniting the international sports community in creating safe spaces and opportunities for all youth, encouraging cross-sector collaboration and partnerships. Emphasis was placed on the need to better safeguard young athletes and gave all attendees a moment to consider the duty they have towards protection and safeguarding measures.
To conclude his presentation, Stephan Fox paid tribute to Ammar, a 13-year-old Palestinian Muaythai athlete who traveled to Bangkok last year for the 2024 IFMA Youth Peace Camp. Ammar’s life was tragically taken far too soon, by the cruelty of war, on the 23rd of June 2025 as the world was celebrating of peace, inclusion, and respect for Olympic Day. Ammar embodied these very values, carrying with him the dream of becoming a world champion and the hope for a better, safer, and more just world.
President fox reminded that it is a shared responsibility among sport institutions, international federations, and global partners to ensure that all youth have access to safe environments and opportunities to thrive on the playing field of life, using sport as a vehicle to drive global cooperation and long-term impact.
The session proved it made an impact with the chat function flooded with questions and with many attendees sharing their views, expressing their interest to learn more and to collaborate towards a shared vision. It was evident this session touched the surface and the interest to delve deeper is necessary and needed.
The mission continues and we aim to continue collaborating with organisations to ensure our youth are better protected with more opportunities through sport and education in safe spaces.
