An important alliance was built with the Right To Play, an organisation which has been IFMA partner for years. It was officially announced last weekend that IFMA and Right To Play will continue its fruitful partnership to engage youth from different backgrounds to sports after signing the MoU at the second edition of the Bangkok Urban Youth Tournament. Ms. Niamh De Loughry the Asian Director of Right To Play and Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan the President of IFMA put their signatures to strengthen a long lasting relationships between two organisations.

It was last year when an unprecedented event happened at the SportAccord Convention 2018 in Bangkok that a group of refugee kids got a permission to travel to Bangkok for the Sports Festival organised by Alliance of Independent Members of Sport (AIMS), United Through Sports and IFMA. They had a chance to enjoy the opening ceremony, play sports and take part in different activities brought to Bangkok by GAISF. Meeting Olympic champions and NBA stars was a highlight and moments to remember for each youth visiting the event.

Working closely together, IFMA, Right To Play and United Through Sports raise awareness on the question of the refugee youth. Their shared vision made it possible to use sport as a tool to bring the kids so many opportunities to showcase their talents and to experience the world they cannot see in their lives.

The Bangkok Urban Youth Tournament, a project initiated by United Through Sports and IFMA and in collaboration with RightToPlay and EXtreme Sport was launched with the vision to bring a sports to children from all social and geographical backgrounds. Together with RTP, a refugee team was brought down to the Bangkok play space to play and show skills in futsal, badminton, muaythai, basketball and sepaktakraw. It was a great achievement to unite the youth from various background by one field of play and to see their teams enjoying victories and sharing losses.

Ms De Loughry, said that she was proud to introduce muaythai to the most vulnerable and marginalized children and youth. The current event initiated by IFMA is a great opportunity for these kids to spend time with fun, enjoy the sport and make new friends.

Dr. Sakchye said that his aim to use sport and his organisation to help the youth in need came true, and he will proudly work together with Right To Play to increase awareness on child protection and child safeguarding on every possible platform.