A/69/340 the implementation of the action plan, providing feedback to the Association ’s policymakers. In addition, the Association joined efforts with the Fair Play Alliance to conduct independent research on the evolution of discrimination in Netherlands football, monitoring the impact and evolution of the initiatives undertaken . Another aim of the action plan is to expand and improve existing campaigns in sports, such as the “Towards a safer sports climate” initiative, which incorporates the issue of discrimination in its informative activities and workshops. 51 54. The National Hockey League (NHL), composed of United States and Canadian teams in North America, initiated its Diversity project which provides the opportunity for young people to experience the game of hockey, irrespective of cultural, economic or racial background. 52 Among its other activities, the Willie O’Ree All-Star Game is an annual celebration of the multicultural heritage of the League, with boys and girls representing NHL diversity programmes from across North America interacting with NHL players and attending an NHL game . 53 D. Civil society initiatives to counter racism, xenophobia, discrimination and other related hate speech in amateur and professional sports 55. The Special Rapporteur wishes to highlight a number of positive initiatives undertaken by civil society organizations in raising awareness of racism and discrimination in sports, and in combating such forms of intolerance . 56. Football against Racism in Europe (FARE), 54 created in 1996, is a network of non-governmental organizations, amateur groups and supporter clubs in Europe, Africa and the Americas, and is committed to combating discrimination in football . The network works to advance the social inclusion of marginalized and disenfranchised groups and to engage policymakers, key players and governing bodies in the anti-discrimination movement. The “Football People Action Week” is an annual international campaign organized locally by members of the FARE network. It was developed to increase public awareness of discrimination in football, create a united front by bringing together all of football ’s stakeholders, and develop ideas and new practices that challenge exclusion. 55 The FARE network also supports Mondiali Antirazzisti (Anti-racist World Cup), a non-competitive international championship held every year in Italy and attended by teams and organizations from several countries. 56 57. The Special Rapporteur was also made aware of the efforts initiated by the United Kingdom-based educational charity, Show Racism the Red Card, established in January 1996. 57 The charity presents an anti-racist message to youth by developing activities that encourage them to challenge racism in daily life . Among its several initiatives, it spreads messages by attaching anti -racist phrases to the image of well-known athletes and sports personalities in media campaigns . The __________________ 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 18/21 See See See See See See See http://english.knvb.nl/whatwedo/respect (accessed 21 July 2014). http://www.nhl.com/nhlhq/community/diversity.html (accessed 21 July 2014). http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2008-01-14-cover-oree_N.htm. http://www.farenet.org/ (accessed 21 July 2014). http://www.farenet.org/campaigns/football-people-action-weeks/ (accessed 21 July 2014). http://www.farenet.org/campaigns/mondiali-antirazzisti/ (accessed 21 July 2014). http://www.srtrc.org/ (accessed 21 July 2014). 14-59616