In addition to hosting the “United Through Diversity Forum”, the presence of UTS at SportAccord was to honor the youth. The forum served as a platform to spotlight the profound impact of the UTS World Youth Festivals through engaging presentations and comprehensive reports. The 2018 and 2022 World Youth Festivals in the Kingdom of Thailand and the 2021 Hybrid World Youth Festival held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were shared as examples of positive steps towards progress.
The forum also offered UTS President Stephan Fox, CEO Julia Govinden, and the UTS team an opportunity to acknowledge and express gratitude to the key nations and organizations that have supported UTS since its inception. A special recognition was extended to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Thailand, for their significant contributions in supporting UTS’ mission to deliver impactful initiatives and supporting the huge global impact placing UTS as the world’s largest inclusive youth sports organization.
Among the distinguished guests who accepted an award were HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and HH Prince Fahad bin Jalawi Al Saud, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. UTS expressed gratitude to the Sport Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the National Sports Fund Development (NSDF) of Thailand for their support over the years. Khun Supranee Guptasa, the manager of NSDF, was presented an award on behalf of the organizations for their support.
UTS also thanked the pivotal role played by esteemed organizations in the global sports community, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Special Olympics International (SOI), and SportAccord. These organizations, recognized as patrons of the UTS World Youth Festivals, are not only leaders in the sporting world but also pioneers shaping its future for generations to come.
The IOC, under the visionary leadership of President Thomas Bach, has been a steadfast supporter of UTS since inception. President Bach’s consistent presence as the opening speaker at every UTS Festival and Congress reflects the IOC’s unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive sporting environments worldwide. Similarly, the IPC has been instrumental in championing inclusivity in sports, supporting UTS’s mission to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities at the highest level of competition.
UTS extended deepest respect and gratitude to the Special Olympics for their ongoing partnership in changing lives worldwide. SOI is an organization that caught everybody’s eyes at SportAccord and we are proud to collaborate annually towards the #inclusionrevolution.
To close the forum, UTS presented an award of gratitude to SportAccord with its President Dr. Ugur Erdener in attendance accepting the award. The partnership between UTS and SportAccord since 2017 has been invaluable in promoting the UTS vision of inclusivity and diversity in sports. SportAccord’s unwavering support and collaboration have facilitated numerous partnerships and collaborations, propelling UTS’s mission forward.
“On behalf of the entire team at UTS, I am profoundly thankful to our partners and to the global sporting community for their continued support in driving change for the next generation and fostering a more inclusive world. We are determined to continue UTS’ mission of promoting inclusivity and diversity. The United Through Diversity Forum at the SportAccord 2024 Convention has already sparked positive discussions, meetings, and partnerships towards implementing real social change. The future is Bright!”, said UTS President Stephan Fox.
