Media Releases

ICSS briefs CID on the protection and promotion of sports values across Ibero-American countries

San Juan, Puerto Rico; 11th February 2015:

As Ibero-American nations prepare to host some of the largest major sport events, including the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, the Ibero-American Sports Council (CID) invited the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to participate at its 21st Assembly in Puerto Rico.

In front of sport ministers and government bodies from 20 countries in Latin America as well as Spain and Portugal, the brief of the ICSS intended to assist its members untap the potential of sport as an educational tool and support positive social change through sport across the region was welcomed by CID members.

To achieve this aim, a Declaration was adopted by the CID Assembly welcoming the work developed by the ICSS, through its Save the Dream initiative, to promote and protect sport values for the good of young athletes and youth at large, as well as promoting the use of sport as a tool for social inclusion. The ICSS also extended an offer to the Ibero-American countries to join the interregional platform established by the ICSS to protect the integrity of sport.

The XXI CID Annual Assembly featured statements from Mohammed Hanzab (ICSS President), Massimiliano Montanari (Save the Dream Executive Director) and Pedro Velazquez (Director for Social Innovation). The presentation showcased the ICSS’s ongoing efforts to engage leading international organisations and policy-makers to introduce stronger measures to help safeguard sport, as well as encouraging sports bodies and governments to promote the values and integrity of sport to young people.

Hon. Ram E. Orta Rodrguez, President of the Ibero-American Sports Council (CID), said:

”Through its Save the Dream programme, the ICSS has become a globally-renowned and respected voice in promoting the importance of sport and its social and educational values to young people. On behalf of the CID, I am welcome their commitment to enhance the safety, security and integrity of sport across the region.

Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said:

”The Ibero-American Sport Council (CID) is a key organisation and represents some of the most influential countries in the world of sport. On behalf of the ICSS and our Save the Dream programme, we are delighted to work with the CID for what will be an important step forward for both organisations and the future of Ibero-American sport.

”Like the CID, we believe in the power of sport to enhance the lives of young people, its positive contribution to society, as well as the need for greater collaboration between sports organisations and governments in the area of sport safety, security and integrity.

”We intend to build on the good faith shown in the ICSS by the CID to protect and promote the values of sport across Ibero-America countries through our Save the Dream initiative, as well as safeguarding sport in the region.