Amid a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across Europe, a unique international gathering took place this week in Paris, initiated by the Center for Jewish Impact (CJI), in cooperation with UNESCO, the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) and the Embassy of Israel in France.
The event, held under CJI’s One Team - One People initiative, brought together diplomats, ambassadors, civil society leaders and senior sports executives — including Center for Jewish Impact Chairman Robert Singer, senior representatives of Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Club and Paris Basketball President David Kahn.
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Left to right: Israel’s ambassador to international organizations, Robert Singer, Hapoel Chief Commercial Officer Ben Rubino, Paris Basketball President David Kahn, Hapoel General Manager George Hinas, Hapoel Tel Aviv Operations Manager Omri Levinger, Sonia Gomes de Mesquita
(Photo: Hapoel 'IBI' Tel Aviv)
The meeting fostered dialogue on the role of sports as a bridge for tolerance, understanding and resilience in the face of hate and polarization, highlighting how athletic cooperation can help promote education, coexistence and social responsibility across Europe.
“Sports are far more than a game - they are a universal language of connection, education and dialogue," said Center for Jewish Impact Chairman Robert Singer. "Through One Team - One People, we aim to demonstrate that even amid rising antisemitism and division across Europe, it is possible to build bridges of hope and humanity. Seeing diplomats, leaders and Israeli and French basketball players around one table - that is the real victory.”
Ofer Yanai, Owner of Hapoel “IBI” Tel Aviv, noted that the collaboration carries “profound meaning in light of the alarming rise in global antisemitism,” emphasizing that sports “have always been a bridge connecting people, cultures and communities.”
Noëlle Lenoir, former French Minister for European Affairs and Constitutional Judge, warned that “extremist Islamist movements are gaining ground, using sports as a platform to spread hatred - a challenge we must face together.”
“Sports hold immense potential to shape societies, yet too often lack government priority. UNESCO’s Global Report on the State of Sports dedicates special focus to racism and antisemitism, proposing educational strategies to prevent the spread of hate through sport,” added Alexis CHAPELAN, UNESCO Sports Department in the Social Sciences and Humanities Sector.
The Paris gathering forms part of a broader series of initiatives led by the Center for Jewish Impact across major European cities, designed to deepen dialogue on tolerance, diversity and the unifying power of sports.
Following the roundtable, representatives of Hapoel Tel Aviv and Paris Basketball visited ORT Montreuil School, where they met with teachers and students to discuss identity, belonging and community through the shared language of sports and education.