Doha Forum

Whilst Tom Williams marked out a local football pitch, I was at the Doha Forum in Qatar listening to world leaders and meeting with politicians, diplomats, UN officials, civil society organisations, and academics.

Over 5,000 people attended sessions on finding peace in Ukraine, in Gaza, in Sudan and on Syria to name a few examples. There were discussions on the future of the international world order from global governance, to global health to humanitarian responses and managing strategic competition. Conflict, trade, human rights, AI, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, refugee protection and understanding migration all featured throughout the two days.

The importance of trust was a prominent theme, including as a block to finding global solutions, and that a lack of trust between countries erodes trust between peoples.

Forums such as Doha and of course the United Nations, are ways to convene to find understanding. But this diplomatic top down view of the world can struggle to understand how to connect us at the roots. How to ensure an individual is connected to their community and then how connect their communities. Then from communities to nations, to regions, to global. And also how to craft initiatives that take root within communities.

Community sport creates that convening space. A space to connect and to find local solutions which when stitched together become a global force for good.