Sporting bodies unite in signing charter to stamp out racism

THE country’s major sporting bodies united together yesterday in an historic move to stamp out racism.

In a special ceremony in Dublin, leaders of the sporting organisations put their names to a charter to ban racism in their respective games. The ceremony marked the first time bodies from across Irish sport have united on one common theme.

Each leader through their signature vowing to ensure their respective sports were conducted in a non-discriminatory manner, affecting race, colour, ethnic or national origins, religious beliefs and membership of the Traveller community.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Sports Minister John O'Donoghue attended the public signing of the charter, the result of co-operation between the various sporting organisations in the country over the past six months.

Joe McDonagh. chairman of Know Racism, the anti-racism awareness programme launched two years ago, said he was delighted with the support for the charter. "By signing this charter Irish sporting bodies have accepted the responsibilities and challenges that change brings," he said.

The 11 organisations who signed the charter are: Athletics Association of Ireland, the Community Games, Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael, the Football Association of Ireland, the Gaelic Athletic Association, Irish Basketball, the Irish Rugby Football Union, the Irish Sports Council, the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association, the Federation of Irish Sports and Sport Against Racism in Ireland.

l National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme, Room 502, 43-40 Mespil Road, Dublin 4, www.knowracism.ie Phone [phone] 695.