World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry Endorses Sporting Chance Principles

23 May 2017.

The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) has endorsed the Sporting Chance Principles on Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights.

Produced to further the efforts of the Mega-Sporting Events Platform for Human Rights (“MSE Platform”), the Principles aim to underpin the common goal of ensuring that human rights are central to mega-sporting events throughout their lifecycle.

WFSGI is an independent association made up of sports brands, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, national/regional federations, industry and trade associations and all sporting goods industry related buisnesses.

The MSE Platform is an emerging multi-stakeholder coalition of international and intergovernmental organisations, governments, sports governing bodies, athletes, unions, sponsors, broadcasters, and civil society groups. Through dialogue and joint action its mission is to ensure all actors involved in staging an event fully embrace and operationalise their respective human rights duties and responsibilities throughout the MSE lifecycle.

WFSGI is endorsing the Principles to further its efforts to develop and promote an understanding within the World Federation about the relevance of global social and environmental challenges for each individual member company. 

All stakeholders, including non-MSE Platform members such as WFSGI, are invited to reference the Principles, and expressions of support or endorsement are welcome.

Commenting on the announcement, Robbert de Kock, WFSGI President & CEO said:

“The WFSGI supports the work of the IHRB and the Mega-Sporting Events Platform for Human Rights to address the human rights challenges of running sports events and we are pleased to endorse their ‘Sporting Chance Principles’, which were established in 2016 to promote and embed human rights considerations into the planning, delivery and legacy of sporting events.”

John Morrison, Chief Executive of IHRB, added:

“We are very pleased to have WFSGI’s endorsement of the Sporting Chance Principles. These Principles inform our common goal of ensuring that all actors fully embrace respect for human rights at every stage in the lifecycle of mega-sporting events.“