Press Releases…,
June 2008
Welcome
We are delighted to invite you to participate in the 1st ‘Game of FairPlay’ World Football Congress. The congress will take place 1-3 September 2008 in Istanbul Turkey, with plenary sessions with top guest speakers exploring relevant themes. The congress will have major strands focusing on the influence of global and national business interests on the game through investment and sponsorship. The impact of new forms of ownership and governance on football clubs and leagues will be explored in the context of the role of national associations. Internationally renowned speakers will give challenging and interactive presentations allowing open discussions on key topics and issues.
The congress will offer the possibility for attendees to share their knowledge and experiences. It will enhance the development of their professional and personal networks by exploring the concept of ‘fair play’ in the game of football. Fair play is as relevant to the rapidly changing commercial face of football as it is to the regulation of on-the-pitch activities. The aim is to promote a systematic and coherent use of football in development and fair play activities, particularly at the grass roots level, and to generate greater support for such activities among clubs, national associations, player representatives, commercial partners and other related football organizations. Football can cut across the barriers that divide societies, making it a powerful tool to address social concerns, both symbolically at the global level and practically within and between communities. Especially when applied fairly and effectively, football activities promote social integration, ethnicity and foster tolerance and generate communications.
The importance of fair play in all human societies, as much as in football, has deep roots. New challenges continually threaten the concept of fair play. Challenges arise from many directions from expansionist plans made by powerful leagues to the threat to the integrity of the game from gambling using new technology. The line demarking ‘fair’ from ‘unfair play’ is under increasing pressure. Joseph Blatter, the president of FIFA, world’s governing body recently said:
“The world owes it to the English philosopher, John Locke, for his insight that "all mankind ... being all equal and independent, no-one should harm another in his life, health, liberty" and that each should respect the other's reasonable nature. In other words, personal freedom ends where the next person's freedom begins. Contentious situations frequently show that discord arises wherever a line needs to be drawn. In February this year, FIFA was involved in a debate with the Premier League in Locke's home country following the announcement of the Premier League's intention to hold an "international round" outside England. The Premier League maintained that its plans were quite legitimate but, as the President of FIFA, I held the view that such expansionism contradicted the very substance and spirit of the world governing body's Statutes.
The Game of FairPlay organization also notes the sentiments expressed by Michel Platini, president of UEFA in the Economist:
“We need to protect and strengthen ethical sporting values that champion fair play, respect for referees and opponents, and fair competitions. We must defend the European sports model based on financial solidarity between rich and poor, as we are convinced that that’s the best way forward to protect the future of football.”
This congress will examine the reasons for increasing pace of commercialization. It will seek to find means by which common sense and sporting integrity may prevail for all those with a stake, not least the fans, not alone society in the ‘beautiful game’!
Whilst open to all sport business and industry professionals and academics, the conference is particularly aimed at football managers, local and national officials, football coaches, development officers, players, medical staff, doctors, police and security, agents, legal profession, sport governing body and administrators provide across a variety of disciplines.
We hope you will take the opportunity to attend this conference. In addition to the insights and contacts made you will be able to experience excellent hospitality within the historical setting of the modern and vibrant city of Istanbul, where Europe literally as well as culturally, meets Asia.
The conference is organised by game FairPlay consortium members and supported by Universities, Institutions, Organizations and Football Federations with the particular cooperation of the Turkish Football Association, UEFA and FIFA.
For further information, www.gamefairplay.com email info@gamefairplay.com
Oskar Kayasan
Head of `The Game of FairPlay` Consortium
