Newsroom

Back 30th Council of Europe North-South Prize to honour the inclusion of refugees in the Olympic and Paralympic Games

In its 30th edition, the Jury* of North-South Prize of the Council of Europe has decided to honour the initiative enabling refugees to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games (led by the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Refuge Foundation, and the International Paralympic Committee). The prize will also be awarded to Miguel Ángel Moratinos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General holding the post of High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).This recognition reflects their significant contributions to fostering understanding, solidarity, and inclusion on the world stage.

The initiative supporting refugee participation in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, through the Refugee Olympic and Paralympic teams, challenges stereotypes about refugees and people with disabilities in sports. By competing globally, refugee athletes exemplify resilience and raise awareness about the need for greater inclusion, equal rights, and the unifying power of sport rooted in fair play and tolerance.

Through numerous efforts, the Council of Europe advocates for human rights in sports, working to make sports safe, ethical, and accessible to all. The European Sports Charter recalls that “access to sport for all is considered to be a fundamental right. All human beings have an inalienable right of access to sport in a safe environment, both inside and outside school settings, which is essential for their personal development and instrumental in the exercise of the rights to health, education, culture and participation in the life of the community”. It also urges to pay particular attention to individuals and groups in a situation of vulnerability, such as children, migrants and persons with disabilities.

The 30th North-South Prize of the Council of Europe award ceremony, to be held on 21 May 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, will celebrate these two laureates for their strong commitment to human rights and solidarity, reinforcing global unity around the values of the Council of Europe.

*The Jury, presided over by the Chair of the North-South Centre Executive Committee and comprising members of the Bureau of the North-South Centre, made its decision during the 33rd Executive Committee meeting on October 22, 2024, in Strasbourg.

European Sports Charter