The Other Side of the Coin: Anti-Semitism in Sports - Faith & Freedom News

The Other Side of the Coin: Antisemitism in Sports Conference

In a Europe grappling with a surge in hate, Bratislava has emerged as an unexpected yet powerful platform for a long-overdue dialogue. The Slovak capital hosted a groundbreaking international event that filled the conference room of Hotel Tatra—the first conference of its kind on the European continent, addressing antisemitism in one of the world’s most beloved arenas: sports.

A Historic Gathering

Part of the third year of the Festival of Jewish Culture MAZEL TOV, this unprecedented event attracted over 50 participants from Ukraine, Slovakia, the United States, Israel, Germany, Hungary, and beyond. The bustling hall at Hotel Tatra was more than just a venue—it was a clear indication of how deeply this issue resonates, reaching far beyond the realm of sports.

The conference was supported by Ambassador of the United States Gautam Rana and Ambassador of the State of Israel Eitan Levon with their personal participation, emphasizing the seriousness and relevance of this critical topic. Official representatives of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia also attended.

Diplomatic Presence That Signaled Gravity

The high-level presence—joined by academics, activists, former officials, and youth leaders—sent an unmistakable signal: addressing antisemitism in sports is now a diplomatic, cultural, and moral priority.

Distinguished Guests Included:

H.E. Eitan Levon, Ambassador of Israel to Slovakia
H.E. Gautam A. Rana, U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic
Simon Davidson, Knesset Member, Chairman of the Sports Subcommittee, and former President of the Israeli Swimming Association
Natan Sharansky, Chairman of ISGAP and global icon in the fight against antisemitism and totalitarianism
Stefan Kruschke, German Embassy’s Head of Press and Culture
Vladislava Chaus, representing the Ukrainian Embassy
Dagmar Gavorníková, President of Maccabi Europe
Keren Koresh, representative of Maccabi World Union
Sofia Krivchikova, representing Maccabi Ukraine’s youth movement

The conference was skillfully moderated by Tomáš Stern, head of JEWROPE and the driving force behind the event.

Expert Voices Unite

The speaker lineup featured more than 15 experts, reflecting the breadth of experience now being mobilized to combat antisemitism in sports:

Michal Vašečka – Sociologist and Academic
Radoslav Ragac – Institute of National Memory
Grigory Mezezhnikov – Political Scientist
Eric Rubin – Global Ambassador, Maccabi World Union; President, Project Max
Daniel S. Mariaschin – CEO, B’nai B’rith International
Peter Švec – ICEJ Slovakia and former State Secretary
Lior Aizenberg – Anti-antisemitism activist and founder of Chess4All
Michal Vanek – Director, Museum of Jewish Culture
Hana Kiral-Vargová Warren – Slovak Maccabi Organization
Natalia Tolok – Hillel Lviv
Evgeny Neimer – Captain, Maccabi Steinitz Prague Chess Team

The conference received extraordinary video greetings from Natan Sharansky, a world-respected figure in human rights and democracy, and Simon Davidson, emphasizing the global significance of this gathering.