FIA joins forces with UNESCO’s fit for life coalition to combat racism in sport
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, UAOA Founder and FIA President signs the partnership with UNESCO (FIA)
PARIS, March 28, 2025 - Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally, today announces a new partnership with UNESCO as a signatory of their Fit for Life pledge. This new initiative, dedicated to tackling racism worldwide, will bolster the FIA’s leading efforts to tackle online abuse in sport through its United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign.
Officially launched in December 2024 at the 4th UNESCO Global Forum Against Racism and Discrimination in Barcelona, the Fit for Life Network Against Racism unites political, sporting, and charitable organisations worldwide - including La Liga, the Barça Foundation, and the RISE network - to combat racism and racial discrimination in sport.
The partnership aligns closely with the core mission of the FIA’s UAOA campaign, reinforcing a collective commitment to inclusivity, safety and equality in sport. Aauri Bokesa, Spanish Olympic 400m sprinter, commented on Fit for Life and the new partnership: "I am really excited to join the Fit for Life Network Against Racism. This is a great opportunity to work with UNESCO, other athletes, and organisations like the FIA and their United Against Online Abuse campaign to tackle racism in sport and beyond. As an athlete, I believe this is a powerful platform to drive change and amplify my voice to promote inclusion, equity and safety in sport."
As part of this collaboration, UAOA will contribute its world-leading research expertise to UNESCO’s international alliance of UN member states, providing valuable insights and data-driven strategies to combat racism in sports. The UAOA Online Abuse in Sport Barometer 2025 report revealed a deepening crisis in sport, as 50% of all abuse directed at athletes and competitors was found to be misogynistic or racist, a significant increase from 2023.
This partnership presents a unique opportunity to develop and implement impactful global policies, drive meaningful change and foster greater inclusivity across the sporting community.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, UAOA Founder and FIA President said:
"We are honoured to partner with UNESCO and join forces with their Fit for Life Network. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in our shared commitment to fostering inclusivity, respect, and equality in sport and society. As a founding member of this network, we take pride in contributing to UAOA’s expertise in combating online abuse, a critical issue that has far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities.
By combining our knowledge and resources we believe that the Fit for Life Network Against Racism has the power to drive real, meaningful change. This initiative goes beyond the boundaries of sport, creating an environment where racism, discrimination, and prejudice are no longer tolerated. Together, we can raise awareness, promote education, and implement concrete actions to dismantle harmful stereotypes and behaviours.”
Philipp Müller-Wirth, Chief of UNESCO’s Sports Section said:
“UNESCO is delighted to have the support of the United Against Online Abuse campaign as we launch the Fit for Life Network against Racism. We look forward to working closely with UAOA over the coming months and their expertise in addressing online abuse will play a critical role as we develop effective strategies to combat racism within the sporting world.”
The Fit for Life Network Against Racism is a pioneering initiative designed to use the transformative power of sport to address systemic racism and racial discrimination. The network brings together diverse stakeholders, including NGOs, athletes, and sports organisations, to encourage the development of inclusive, equitable and safe sports policies and collaborate on education, advocacy, and tangible action.
The FIA’s ‘United Against Online Abuse’ (UAOA) campaign is a research-led coalition dedicated to tackling online abuse in sports founded by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and supported by the FIA Foundation. Recently awarded Peace and Sport’s prestigious Coalition for Peace award, UAOA brings together sports federations, national governments, regulatory bodies, and technology platforms, aiming to foster regulatory and behavioural change to combat the rise of online harassment and hate speech.
To date, the UAOA coalition has welcomed endorsements from the Governments of Greece, France, Slovenia, Albania, Australia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Namibia and Rwanda, alongside sports federations and organisations such as FIM, the International Esports Federation, ASETEK SimSports, Peace and Sport Monaco, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, Clark Hill LLP, Arwen.AI and DCU University.
Officially launched in December 2024 at the 4th UNESCO Global Forum Against Racism and Discrimination in Barcelona, the Fit for Life Network Against Racism unites political, sporting, and charitable organisations worldwide - including La Liga, the Barça Foundation, and the RISE network - to combat racism and racial discrimination in sport.
The partnership aligns closely with the core mission of the FIA’s UAOA campaign, reinforcing a collective commitment to inclusivity, safety and equality in sport. Aauri Bokesa, Spanish Olympic 400m sprinter, commented on Fit for Life and the new partnership: "I am really excited to join the Fit for Life Network Against Racism. This is a great opportunity to work with UNESCO, other athletes, and organisations like the FIA and their United Against Online Abuse campaign to tackle racism in sport and beyond. As an athlete, I believe this is a powerful platform to drive change and amplify my voice to promote inclusion, equity and safety in sport."
As part of this collaboration, UAOA will contribute its world-leading research expertise to UNESCO’s international alliance of UN member states, providing valuable insights and data-driven strategies to combat racism in sports. The UAOA Online Abuse in Sport Barometer 2025 report revealed a deepening crisis in sport, as 50% of all abuse directed at athletes and competitors was found to be misogynistic or racist, a significant increase from 2023.
This partnership presents a unique opportunity to develop and implement impactful global policies, drive meaningful change and foster greater inclusivity across the sporting community.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, UAOA Founder and FIA President said:
"We are honoured to partner with UNESCO and join forces with their Fit for Life Network. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in our shared commitment to fostering inclusivity, respect, and equality in sport and society. As a founding member of this network, we take pride in contributing to UAOA’s expertise in combating online abuse, a critical issue that has far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities.
By combining our knowledge and resources we believe that the Fit for Life Network Against Racism has the power to drive real, meaningful change. This initiative goes beyond the boundaries of sport, creating an environment where racism, discrimination, and prejudice are no longer tolerated. Together, we can raise awareness, promote education, and implement concrete actions to dismantle harmful stereotypes and behaviours.”
Philipp Müller-Wirth, Chief of UNESCO’s Sports Section said:
“UNESCO is delighted to have the support of the United Against Online Abuse campaign as we launch the Fit for Life Network against Racism. We look forward to working closely with UAOA over the coming months and their expertise in addressing online abuse will play a critical role as we develop effective strategies to combat racism within the sporting world.”
The Fit for Life Network Against Racism is a pioneering initiative designed to use the transformative power of sport to address systemic racism and racial discrimination. The network brings together diverse stakeholders, including NGOs, athletes, and sports organisations, to encourage the development of inclusive, equitable and safe sports policies and collaborate on education, advocacy, and tangible action.
The FIA’s ‘United Against Online Abuse’ (UAOA) campaign is a research-led coalition dedicated to tackling online abuse in sports founded by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and supported by the FIA Foundation. Recently awarded Peace and Sport’s prestigious Coalition for Peace award, UAOA brings together sports federations, national governments, regulatory bodies, and technology platforms, aiming to foster regulatory and behavioural change to combat the rise of online harassment and hate speech.
To date, the UAOA coalition has welcomed endorsements from the Governments of Greece, France, Slovenia, Albania, Australia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Namibia and Rwanda, alongside sports federations and organisations such as FIM, the International Esports Federation, ASETEK SimSports, Peace and Sport Monaco, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, Clark Hill LLP, Arwen.AI and DCU University.
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