“Home game for human rights”
EM 2024 should combine the miracle of Bern and summer fairy tales
October 16, 2023, 6:13 p.m
“Standards are set here by which new tournaments can be measured,” says Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, allowing expectations for the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany to continue to grow. Tournament director Philipp Lahm also expects little less than a revolution.
In the shadow of the European Championship Cup, Philipp Lahm and Hubertus Heil verbally passed the balls back and forth – and their message could hardly be clearer. The home European Championships in 2024 should set new standards when it comes to human rights, unite the divided society and, ideally, save the whole of Europe. Long before the first kick-off, the tournament becomes increasingly overloaded with huge expectations beyond the sport.
“This big football festival can be a point that gives our country orientation and hope,” said Federal Labor Minister Heil at a meeting in Frankfurt/Main – and drew parallels to the “Miracle of Bern” at the 1954 World Cup or the “Summer Fairy Tale” of 2006. Given Despite numerous crises, social divisions and military conflicts, it was not only the minister who emphasized the importance of the tournament.
“It is important that we get more cohesion again in Germany and all of Europe,” said Lahm, who had recently strapped a heavy backpack to the final round with a remarkable “turning point” warning: “United in the heart of Europe, that is what we want to live “To strengthen cohesion in our society.”
Celia Sasic, Vice President of the German Football Association (DFB), also called for the European Championship (June 14 to July 14, 2024) to be used “to bring the unifying element back to the fore.” The tournament should not be seen “just as a purely sporting event,” she said: “We are working for a new feeling of unity.”
Heil wants to show the world how it’s done
External representation will play a decisive role in achieving socio-political goals. Heil sees the organizers’ efforts with regard to the working conditions around the tournament as a “good sign”. The SPD politician said he was pleased “that it will be a home game for human rights”: “Standards are being set here against which new tournaments can be measured.”
One cannot assume “that all venues for major sporting events are democracies based on our model,” said Heil, referring to the discussions about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but also to the possible awarding of the 2034 tournament to Saudi Arabia. “We have to work hard to ensure that good examples set a precedent.”
On November 14th, the specific ideas for the EM on the subject of human rights and sustainability will be presented together with the federal government at an appointment. On the way to the success of the tournament and the big goals outside of sport, football and politics are looking to join forces.
“There have always been problems, but currently it is a very, very challenging time for us as a population,” said Lahm. However, it is also an “opportunity” combined with the question: “How do we actually want to live together? We can show ourselves as we are.”