Fair Play Team in Döbling: New contact point for respectful cooperation

Fair Play Team in Döbling: New contact point for respectful cooperation

The Währinger Fair Play team is now also ensuring better coexistence in the Döbling district. The initiative, which has been active in Währing since 2010, was recently expanded and is now led by six committed members. Since August, they have been acting as mediators between different groups of people to promote respectful and fair interaction. The expansion across district boundaries was considered necessary because Währing and Döbling, although not hotspot districts, have very mixed populations.

The new contact point at Billrothstrasse 61 will be barrier-free and will offer anonymous, free advice for anyone interested. The initiative is financed from the district budgets, with a sum of around 156,000 euros being budgeted for the Döbling district. District leader Daniel Resch from the ÖVP sees the new structure as optimal for improving the offering. District Vice President Mahboobeh Bayat from the SPÖ also emphasizes how important public space is as a common living room for people. The Fair Play team also receives support from district leader Silvia Nossek (Greens), who also emphasizes improving working conditions for employees.

The mission of the Fair Play Initiative

Founded in 1997 as part of the European Year against Racism, the Fair Play Initiative is based at the Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC). It is committed to anti-discrimination, social inclusion and human rights in sport and sees its mission as indispensable for the cohesion of society. The main topics are comprehensive: from combating discrimination to promoting diversity and preventing extremism.

What is particularly important to the initiative is the creation of a solidarity-based and sustainable sports culture without exclusion. Activities include campaigning and educational work that shows positive strategies for clubs and initiatives, but also supporting marginalized groups so that they can participate actively in sport on an equal basis. The fair play initiative is supported by various sponsors, including the Austrian Ministry of Sports, Austrian Development Cooperation and UEFA.

Young people and their place in society

Another aspect that is related to the work of the Fair Play team is the often invisible role of young people in society. According to reports from unser-waehring.at, many young people feel that they are not sufficiently noticed in their urban environment. Here, the Fair Play team could respond to real needs through its initiatives and offers and thus make a valuable contribution to the visibility and inclusion of young people.

In times when social interactions are often burdened by prejudice and misunderstanding, such initiatives are essential. The Fair Play team has a good knack for intervening in problem areas and promotes an atmosphere of respect and acceptance - not only in Währing, but now also in Döbling.