Digital dialog with Network "Sport and Politics”
On December 15, 2021, VOLLKONTAKT met with the Network "Sport and Politics for Fairness, Respect and Human Dignity" for a digital conversation on a central topic focus the work of our Project. It became clear once again that there continues to be a great demand for exchange and networking between political institutions and institutions of sport on "Combat Sports and Extreme Rights" and on "Combat Sports and Group-Related Misanthropy".
General information about the "Network "Sport and Politics" can be found here
Public information event on 25.11.2021 (Berlin)
In cooperation with the 'Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung' our information event took place on 25.11.2021 under the title Problem erkannt, Problem gebannt? Kampfsport und Rechtsextremismus. In the rooms of the 'Friedrich Ebert Foundation' we asked: What potential does martial arts have in the work against right-wing extremism? How can the martial arts landscape be strengthened and protected against extreme right-wing influence? What are sensible starting points for dealing with right-wing extremist fighters and for clear positioning of gyms and associations? What other answers are needed in terms of sport and domestic policy? The participants in the discussion were Julian Barlen (Secretary General of the SPD Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), Martin Barthel (President of the German Amateur MMA Federation), Kathrin Herbst (German Ju-Jutsu Association) and Enrico Rogge (Streetwork Berlin). Author and journalist Ronny Blaschke was the moderator.
Here is the video of the event.
INFO-EVENTS
Info-Event on 16. Nov. in Hannover
In cooperation with ‘Literarischer Salon‘ and supported by Lotto-Sport-Stiftung Niedersachsen our second report event in 2020 about the subject ‘far right extremist at combat sports‘ took place on 16. Nov. (7 p.m.).
Our project member Robert Claus presented his new book: Ihr Kampf - Wie Europas extreme Rechte für den Umsturz trainiert‘. Additionally, we reported about first results of our prototype-project.
Info-Event at Octobre 6th in Berlin at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Our first info-event in 2020 took place at Octobre 6th (6 p.m.) in Berlin. We realized this event in cooperation with with ‘Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung‘.
Training für den Umsturz?
Kampfsport in der extremen rechten – Entwicklungen und Gegenstrategien‘
VOLLKONTAKT prototype project member Robert Claus delivered an input on combat sports in far right groups. Afterwards, the political developing within combat sports, the prevention of violence, discrimination and the influence of far right extremists were discussed. The members of the round-table discussion were:
▶ Member of MoBiT Thüringen
▶ Susann Rüthrich (MdB SPD)
▶ Nina Reip (deutsche sportjugend)
▶ Thorsten Preiss (Sportschule Rahn, Berlin).
ONLINE-CONFERENCE:
RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM & COMBAT SPORTS in the EU
The growing capture of sports by right-wing extremists for recruitment and radicalisation is a worrying trend. Seeing that the landscape of right-wing extremism is changing organisationally, sports has been a focal point of recent efforts of transnational right-wing networks, especially in combat sports. We discussed the situation in Member States and beyond with distinguished experts and explored how these developments can be countered at European level. Speaker at the conference was be our project member Robert Claus.
Hosts:
▶ Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, MEP (Greens/EFA)
▶ Niklas Nienaß, MEP (Greens/EFA)
▶ Tomasz Frankowski, MEP (EPP)
▶ Ibán García del Blanco, MEP (S&D)
Speakers:
▶ Robert Claus, KoFaS, Berlin, Germany
▶ Michael Colbourne, Journalist, Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right
▶ Przemyslaw Witkowski, Collegium Civitas, Warsaw, Poland
▶ Pavel Klymenko, FARE Network, Ukraine
▶ Julia Handle, European Commission, DG HOME, Radicalisation Awareness Network