{"id":8285,"date":"2026-10-08T19:11:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T17:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novact.org\/sports-x-hope-conferencia-esport-pau-barcelona-2\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T13:46:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:46:26","slug":"sports-x-hope-conference-sport-peace-barcelona-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novact.org\/en\/sports-x-hope-conference-sport-peace-barcelona-2\/","title":{"rendered":"From Syria to our neighbourhoods: can football rebuild what war and racism tear apart?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]On 12 November, from 10 am to 1 pm, the international Sports X Hope conference will bring together football clubs, civil society organisations and public institutions at the FC Barcelona offices to tackle an uncomfortable question: does sport really contribute to peace? Attendance is free, with prior registration<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The starting point will be the Hope League, a community football project active in Syria, Iraq and Jordan. Its six academies in Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan alone bring together 1,708 children from different communities, using a non-competitive football methodology developed by the Bar\u00e7a Foundation and Escola de Futbol La Caserna.<\/p>\n

But football does not build peace on its own: it can be a tool for coexistence or reproduce the forms of exclusion that exist beyond the pitch. The conference will explore what makes the difference, drawing on experiences from Syria, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.<\/p>\n

If you coach a team, work for an organisation or shape public policy, this conversation is for you too.<\/p>\n

Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

10:00 Institutional welcome
\nLuca Gervasoni Vila (NOVACT) and Marta Seg\u00fa Estruch (FC Barcelona Foundation). Hosted by Ana\u00efs Mart\u00ed (La Vanguardia).<\/p>\n

10:15 Training for peace: sport and peacebuilding in communities affected by war
\nAbdulaziz Ramadan (DOZ International), Giulia Torrini (Un Ponte Per) and Andr\u00e9s Barrientos (Escola de Cultura de Pau). Moderated by Oriol Andr\u00e9s (Contrast).<\/p>\n

11:15 Coffee break<\/p>\n

11:45 The neighbourhood plays as a team: grassroots football, anti-racism and community ties
\nOleguer Presas (Escola de Futbol La Caserna), Giovanni Castagno (Esquilino Football Club, Rome) and Dolores Galindo (Dragones de Lavapi\u00e9s, Madrid). Moderated by Clara Basiana, journalist and Olympic medallist.<\/p>\n

12:45 Institutional closing
\nC\u00e9sar Tovar (Department of Sports, Government of Catalonia) and Mar Benseny (Catalan Council for the Promotion of Peace).<\/p>\n

Practical information<\/strong><\/p>\n