WFSGI joins the Centre for Sport and Human Rights to coordinate efforts to promote responsible and sustainable practices in sporting goods internationally

WFSGI was formed in 1978 to promote the world’s sporting activities, to standardise the size of equipment and the rules of sport, to improve the standards of quality for sporting goods and to promote responsible and sustainable practices in sporting goods internationally.

WFSGI is an independent association formed by sports and sports-inspired leisure brands, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, national/regional federations, industry and trade associations and all sporting goods industry related businesses. Its purpose is to represent and inspire the industry, to invest in innovation, promote physical activity, support free and fair trade and do business in an ethical and sustainable way.

Robbert de Kock, WFSGI President and CEO said: “On behalf of the sporting goods industry I thank the CSHR for welcoming the WFSGI on board of its advisory board. This is an important development for the WFSGI for further fulfilling its mandate as an information platform for corporate responsibility for the sporting goods companies worldwide. Already today the WFSGI seeks to positively influence the way products in our industry are manufactured. We are looking forward to contributing with our supply chain experience and to a fruitful collaboration ensuring compliance with human rights is a central element of future mega sports events.”

CSHR works towards a sporting environment that fully respects human rights through collective action and promotion of the Sporting Chance Principles, which were endorsed by WFSGI already in 2017.

Through its Advisory Council, CSHR brings together an unprecedented alliance of intergovernmental organisations, governments, sports bodies, athletes, hosts, sponsors, broadcasters, civil society representatives, trade unions, employers and their associations, and national human rights institutions.

Mary Harvey, CEO, CSHR said: “We are very pleased to welcome the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry into the Advisory Council of the Centre. Their mission to promote responsible and sustainable practices in the manufacture of sports goods aligns fully with ours. We look forward to working together to promote ethical sports industry practices and sustainable products.”

About the Centre for Sport and Human Rights

Launched in June 2018, the Centre works towards a world of sport that fully respects human rights by sharing knowledge, building capacity, and strengthening the accountability of all actors through collective action. The Centre is chaired by Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.