A Joint Action for Sports Free of Racism

September 1, 2023

Buenos Aires - Representatives of French Embassy in Argentina, Argentinian Rugby Association (UAR) and Simon Wiesenthal Center gathered today to send a joint message:

 

 

Between September the 8^th and September the 28^th, France will be hosting the World best Rugby.

French Embassy in Argentina, (UAR) and Simon Wiesenthal Center are convinced that sport is one of the best bridges between peoples, and invite you to enjoy the World Cup without racism or discrimination. 

We wish this tournament will highlight the coexistence between delegations and viewers that love sport and make the most of this wonderful enriching experience. 

Rugby world cup France 2023 should be an inspiration for a world that needs a message of peace and coexistence.

 

This initiative arose in the first meeting between the newly arrived Ambassador Romain Nadal and Simon Wiesenthal Center Director for Latin America.

Then the Ambassador shared his worries and sustained that French society is still moved by the murder of the Argentinean rugby player Federico Martín Aramburu more than a year ago in a confusing episode that involved xenophobia and far right elements in France.

 

(Gabriel Travaglini, UAR President; Celine Giusti, First Advisor Amb. France and Ariel Gelblung, SWC Director for Latin America)

 

Knowing our job in the sport field, we immediately organized a meeting and summoned Argentinean Rugby Association that accepted the invitation.

Dr Ariel Gelblung, Simon Wiesenthal Center`s Director for Latin America added: “the everyday fight against racism, xenophobia, discrimination and antisemitism in sports is a priority. The massive gatherings should guarantee and convey coexistence in the diversity and repudiate those that are the different. When one finds interlocutors like French Embassy and Argentinean Rugby Association, the message is loud and clear.”

For further information, please contact Dr. Ariel Gelblung at +54 9 11 49695365, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).