The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally, has welcomed the Paris Basketball Foundation to the United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) coalition – a growing global movement uniting sport, government, and academia to combat online abuse and foster safer sporting environments.
As part of France’s Mental Health Information Weeks (SISM), the Paris Basketball Foundation is hosting several events in Paris, including a dedicated basketball match between Paris Basketball and Baskonia at the Adidas Arena. Prior to the event, Mathias Priez, Paris Basketball Chief Operating Officer, and Willem Groenewald, FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Sustainability, signed the UAOA Charter – reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to a safe and respectful environment for youth, an essential issue in the digital age.
The Paris Basketball Foundation supports projects linked to sport, education, health and mental health, the environment and solidarity, making them a natural partner for the UAOA coalition. During France’s Mental Health Information Weeks (SISM), they hosted workshops and events to provide young athletes with tools to better manage stress, anxiety and performance.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President and UAOA Founder, said: “Sport has the power to unite, inspire and shape values. To preserve that integrity, we must eliminate online abuse and ensure that respect remains at the heart of every competition. Through the United Against Online Abuse coalition, we are building a global movement to shield athletes, officials, volunteers and fans from digital harm, and to champion mental health across every sport. I applaud Paris Basketball and its Foundation for standing with us to safeguard respect, inclusion and fairness both on and off the court.”
Willem Groenewald, FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Sustainability, said: “Online abuse can have a profound impact on the mental health of young people, athletes and fans alike. Through the United Against Online Abuse campaign, the FIA is working hand in hand with partners like Paris Basketball to build a safer, more inclusive sporting environment for everyone. Winning this battle requires a collective global approach – uniting sport, technology, governments and academia behind a shared mission. We are proud to welcome the Club and its Foundation to this global coalition and to stand united for respect and mental health in sport.”
Mathias Priez, Chief Operating Officer of Paris Basketball, said: “Mental health is a fundamental issue for young people, both in the field and in their daily lives. Through these actions, we want to offer resources, inspire and sensitise all our young people, and show that together we can make a difference.”
The FIA’s UAOA campaign is a research-led coalition supported by the FIA Foundation. Founded in 2023 by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the campaign has witnessed rapid growth in recent months and was recently awarded Peace and Sport’s prestigious Coalition for Peace award in recognition of its world-leading efforts building a formidable campaign driving meaningful change.
Uniting international sport federations and organisations, national governments and technology platforms, UAOA is dedicated to tackling online abuse in sport and fostering behavioural change through education and research.
To date, the UAOA coalition has welcomed endorsements from the Governments of Greece, France, Slovenia, Albania, Australia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Namibia, Rwanda, Georgia and the Republic of Paraguay, alongside organisations such as the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) which represents one million athletes, sports federations including Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) that has over 50 World Championships, the International Esports Federation, ASETEK SimSports, International Federation of American Football, International Federation for Sport Officials, Peace and Sport Monaco, Signify Group, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, Clark Hill LLP, Arwen.AI and Dublin City University.
