Morocco and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) officially launched the «Group of Friends on Sport and Migration» on Tuesday during the IOM Council in Geneva, positioning the Kingdom at the center of a new global effort to use sport as a tool for migrant inclusion and better migration governance. The initiative builds on strong interest shown by Member States after an event co-hosted by Morocco and IOM on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last September. The new voluntary platform will enable governments and organizations to exchange policies, data, and best practices, with the aim of integrating sport into national and international strategies on migration and social inclusion. It also advances the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) adopted in Marrakech in 2018. «This launch is not a simple institutional act; it reflects a conviction and an ambition to make sport a strategic tool to address today's migration challenges», said Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. He stressed that sport is «a universal language… an operational tool» capable of fostering inclusion, youth engagement, social cohesion, and preventing vulnerabilities. The Group of Friends will support pilot projects, promote cooperation between governments, international organizations and sports actors, and contribute to the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in May. Membership is open to all states, organizations, sports associations and partners. «The launch comes at a pivotal moment», said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. «Sport is a powerful force for bringing people together… This group will help governments turn these values into concrete policies and partnerships». Next steps include compiling good practices, mapping existing initiatives, and launching policy innovations to strengthen migrant inclusion, an effort that underscores Morocco's growing leadership in shaping global migration governance.
