21.03.2016

Italian sport joins #TweetOffRacism campaign

For the fourth consecutive year, Foundation Candido Cannavò and Comunità Nuova will organise a day against racism in sport aligned with their social media campaign #TweetOffRacism.

The event, held today on the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March), will bring together over 200 children to visit the San Siro/Meazza stadium and participate in a range of initiatives including talks, presentations, testimonials and sporting activities.

On the year of their 120 anniversary the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport will host a talk show explaining the work of Candido Cannavò, their former chief editor, discuss the responsibilities of sports journalists in addressing discrimination and Cannavò's personal battles against discrimination.

Throughout the day the #tweetoffracism hashtag will take on social media to raise awareness of discrimination in sport. Social media influencers and individuals are invited to post a short video pledging their support to the campaign and challenging three friends or colleagues to do the same. In previous years, the initiative counted with the support of international stars such as Kevin Prince Boateng, Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Del Pier and Eros Ramazzotti.

Both events are part of a series of meetings and cultural activities of the Io Tifo Positivo programme, which promotes a positive and free of discrimination way of supporting, backed by UEFA, and which will come to an end at the UEFA Champions League final on 28 May in Milan.

Io Tifo Positivo is an initiative destined to primary school students and grassroots football clubs aiming to educate children and the youth towards diversity, respect and inclusion.

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