The Holocaust and Euro 2024 in Germany
The World Jewish Congress, with the German NGO WhatMatters, will pioneer initiatives aimed at leveraging the power of sports to combat antisemitism and honour the memory of the Holocaust ahead of EUFA EURO 2024.
UEFA EURO 2024, the European football championship, will take place between June 14 and July 14 across Germany.
The program is part of WJC’s Together Through Sports programming, which leverages the universal language of sports to educate, remember and inspire.
The initiative “Football and Memory” launched yesterday, connects UEFA EURO 2024 attendees with the history of the Holocaust through visits to local memorials and former concentration camps. Developed in partnership with the German Football Association’s (DFB) Cultural Foundation, “Football and Memory” reflects on history by using sport as a bridge to the past. Special programming at each site will highlight the interconnectedness of sports, history and memory. A website, available before and during the tournament, will also link visitors to host cities where memorials and museums are located.
DFB President Bernd Neuedorf said: “During the UEFA EURO 2024 we will commemorate the time of National Socialism and the many victims of German crimes. I would particularly like to thank the many memorial and remembrance locations involved for their commitment. Together, we can help to ensure that the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament will have a special impact on society.”
Starting May 23 and continuing through July, the World Jewish Congress will host a dynamic public exhibit, “Sports. Crowds. Power.” at the Sports Museum on the grounds of the 1936 Summer Olympics, when the Nazis were in power. The site is adjacent to Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, which will host the finals of this summer’s tournament.
“Sports. Crowds. Power.” explores the nefarious role of sports under National Socialism and delves into how the Nazis manipulated sports to consolidate power, the tragic impact of the Holocaust on European Jewish athletes and sporting clubs, and the contemporary role of sports in combating antisemitism. Additional information about this initiative will be made available in the coming weeks.
“In the shadow of history, sport represents not just a field of play, but a vital arena for memory, education and the fight against antisemitism,” said WJC President Ronald S. Lauder. “Through initiatives such as ‘Football and Memory’ and ‘Sports. Crowds. Power.,’ we are able to harness the universal language of sports to both remember the past and build a future free of hatred. These programs not only underscore our belief in the power of sports to unite and educate; they remind us that the lessons of history are as relevant on the playing field as they are in the classrooms and memorials around the world.”
UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, consists of the national football associations of Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Turkey.
