Peaceful Coexistence through football: TICAD CUP 2024 (Women’s Football Tournament)

Women’s football tournament TICAD CUP 2024 was held for the third time at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru from September 5^th to 7^th together with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Soltilo Bright Stars, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This event was held as a part of the Japanese government’s pledge in the 2nd Global Refugee Forum 2023 to give 10,000 refugees and host communities the opportunity for sports.

The TICAD CUP brings together players through football including refugees and members of the host community. This year, three teams (Rwamwanja Queens, Agojo Star Girls, and Pagirinya Young Ladies) from the refugee settlements participated along with three teams (Tagy High School from Entebbe, Jinja City Queens from Jinja, and King of Kings from Kabarole) that were invited by FUFA.

The mixed refugee/host community teams were established in the girls-football events that JICA Uganda hosted in the refugee settlements. At these events, the teams received uniforms donated by the Japan Women’s Empowerment Professional Football League (WE League), and the players wore the uniforms during the tournament.

With Uganda being the largest host of refugees in Africa hosting more than 1.7 million refugees, resilience and peaceful coexistence promoted through sports is a key theme of the event. In the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Patrick Okello, the Commissioner for Refugees, from OPM, shared the importance of how sports can help develop self-reliance and prepare for future challenges, and how events like the TICAD CUP can break barriers among people. This was also significant during the event where not only did the players play against each other in the two-day tournament, but they also had the opportunity to interact across teams through the Practice Session held by the SOLTILO where the players were able to cooperate, learn, and share their skills. The players also stayed in the same accommodation at the FUFA technical center and shared meals together, where they got to interact and get along.

Japanese culture was also introduced by the JICA volunteers during the event. The players got to try on traditional Japanese wear such as Yukata and Happi and learned to write their own names in Japanese calligraphy. Another memorable moment was during the Opening Ceremony where the volunteers performed and taught the choreography to the Japanese traditional dance Soran Bushi. The players continued dancing Soran Bushi in their free time during the tournament, and it also played a role in bringing the players together.

This event also emphasized the importance of women and girls to break stereotypes, both on and off the field. The power of education and the importance of combining sports and education to strengthen women’s values were highlighted. This is especially important since girl’s dropout rate in schools due to early marriage and pregnancy is still remarkably high in Uganda. Lectures on gender-based violence, menstrual cycles, and physical/mental well-being were also provided by UNHCR and their implementing partner.

Forty-five refugee athletes participated in the Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Paris this summer. This was the third time the Refugee Olympic Team and Refugee Paralympic Team participated in the Games, following Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, and was the first time the team won medals. Today, the number of people forcibly displaced due to persecution and conflict is said to exceed 120 million. This is more than double the number compared to ten years ago due to the recent change in the international situation. The athletes represent this forcibly displaced people of 120 million and have inspired and provided hope to the people through their performances.

In December 2023, the Government of Japan co-chaired the 2nd Global Refugee Forum in Geneva with Uganda and other countries and pledged to ‘provide sports opportunities for a total of 10,000 refugees and people of host communities. This further highlight that not only supporting basic needs but also providing opportunities for sport for the people to fulfill the right to live in dignity is becoming an essential form of international cooperation.

The competitive two-day tournament ended with the Jinja City Queens defeating the King of Kings 2-0. There was laughter and tears, but trophy or not, the girls all went home as winners, carrying back home their confidence, friendship, and memories, and will keep moving forward. Some of the refugee players who have competed in previous TICAD CUP events have received athletic scholarships to attend school in Uganda. A future where these girls become Olympians may not be far away.

Overall, the tournament signified the power of combining development with sports, peacebuilding, women, and education, and the JICA Uganda Office will continue supporting and providing equal opportunities for everyone to shine.

References for previous TICAD CUPs
TICAD CUP 2023 (Women’s football tournament) ｜ Where We Work - JICA
TICAD CUP 2022 (Women's Football Tournament) ｜ Where We Work - JICA

Information on refugee support
Refugee Responses for Human Security Now: Role of development cooperation highlighted at the Second Global Refugee Forum ｜ News＆Publication - JICA
Global Trends | UNHCR
Refugee Olympic Team inspires as it makes history | UNHCR
Refugee Paralympic Team leaves Paris with historic medals and lasting legacy | UNHCR
Pledges & Contributions | The Global Compact on Refugees | UNHCR (globalcompactrefugees.org)