"Now that the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are behind us, it is essential to reflect on the legacy they will leave in terms of equality and inclusion. These Games, the first to achieve perfect gender parity between female and male athletes, were marked by powerful moments, such as the Italian judoka Alice Bellandi kissing her partner in front of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Similarly, the case of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif sparked intense debates about physical characteristics in women's sports. Intersexuality? Genetic anomaly? Hyperandrogenism? It is clear that the dialogue must continue to provide a fair and complete representation of diversity and the struggles we collectively face. 

"Sport Friendly" is much more than an artistic project. It is an international collaborative initiative that celebrates athletes and sports teams committed to diversity. With the support of the Institut français and labeled as part of the "Cultural Olympiad" by the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Committee, this unique photographic experience aims to raise awareness against all forms of discrimination and amplify the voices of diversity, while promoting inclusion in sports and society. 

The idea emerged from a simple observation: beyond physical performance, sport can be a tremendous vehicle for unity, dialogue, and empowerment for all identities, a powerful way to break stereotypes and celebrate differences. I wanted to use photography as an artistic medium to capture this diversity in stadiums, gyms, and on fields around the world. By highlighting inspiring figures in a shared context, the goal is to resemble in order to unite more effectively. 

Discrimination knows no borders! The support of an institution like the Institut français anchors this project on the international stage and provides an institutional framework that fosters trust and cohesion. This partnership with the Institut français and the French cultural network abroad — including the Alliances Françaises, Instituts français, and Cultural Services of Embassies — allowed each organization in the network wishing to join the initiative to photograph local inclusive sports teams in the "Sport Friendly" style. The objective? To create, alongside the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a collaborative exhibition and a Panini-style photo album celebrating diversity. This project brought together 26 inclusive teams across 16 countries in cities like Atlanta, Buenos Aires, Dallas, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Taipei, thanks to the involvement of 21 organizations from the network. These photographed teams embody sexual, social, and physical diversity, promoting values of respect and inclusion. 

Since its first edition in Argentina (2022), "Sport Friendly" has primarily focused on LGBTQI+ visibility, but it quickly became clear that the crucial role of our allies also needed to be acknowledged. Not only because the goal of this work isn't exclusivity, but also because we need allies to achieve the inclusive world we aspire to. And to spread such a message in potentially hostile or resistant environments. This idea is perfectly illustrated by the RockNRoad Runners of Jersey, who open their races to people of all ages and social backgrounds, and the Sea Sisters in Sri Lanka, who empower women to defy the taboo and surf. In Saint Lucia, a country where homosexuality is punishable by 10 years in prison, we managed to publicly display a photograph of an allied rugby player proudly holding the Rainbow Flag, proving that freedom is a universal value. Another powerful example is the Mexican team Cholula, which, through CrossFit, offers a space where LGBTQI+ individuals and people with disabilities can push their limits, and which inspired an exhibition in Puebla accessible to the visually impaired by adding audio support. 

Each team also contributed to the project with a written testimony on inclusion in sports. These testimonies, far more than just numbers or data, are life stories that add an emotional and human dimension to the exhibition, addressing crucial issues such as racism, sexism, fatphobia, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and bullying. It’s these stories that touch hearts, spark awareness, and catalyze change. 

In June 2024, we launched this international project across 16 countries, with a series of 20 photographic exhibitions that are currently circulating through the network. In parallel, conferences and educational workshops are being organized to raise awareness among young people and local communities about discrimination. The project is now expanding through new local and national editions. Our ambition: to transform sports into a space of tolerance and respect for all identities, in close collaboration with institutions, schools, and local sports associations. 

This project continues to grow and inspire. Art allows us to transform emotions into stories, and these stories, in turn, inspire concrete actions. I commend the commitment of the Institut français of Argentina and the Alliance Française of Buenos Aires, who, alongside the Yacarés team, host inclusive workshops in schools affiliated with each "Sport Friendly" exhibition, promoting sports diversity throughout the country while highlighting French as a living, engaged language. These local initiatives demonstrate that cultural and educational institutions play a key role in the fight against discrimination. Remaining neutral in the face of injustice is to take a side. Our institutions must fully commit. 

Since the project’s inception, it has garnered international media coverage and received the prestigious "Cultural Olympiad" label from Paris 2024, emphasizing its significance in the global cultural and sports landscape. These photographs, exhibited in 16 countries in public spaces and museums worldwide, have already been seen by over one million spectators, notably during the 3rd South American Youth Games in Argentina and at Pride House in Paris during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The project doesn't stop here. In January 2025, a "Sport Friendly" exhibition will be inaugurated at the European Parliament, at the invitation of Italian MEP Alessandro Zan and Emilio Puccio, Secretary General of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights, with the participation of committed personalities such as Donatella Versace and President Roberta Metsola. This will be a unique opportunity to loudly and proudly champion the values of inclusion in sports, as well as within a European Union facing waves of conservatism.

Let’s not ease up: diversity needs to be defended 365 days a year! I invite all organizations in the French cultural network to join us by photographing inclusive teams in your city for a future "Sport Friendly" edition. You can find the participation details at www.sportfriendlyproject.com, and you can already access the international exhibition and its accompanying kits for free on the Institut français platform La Collection.

Let’s tackle prejudices! Together, we can continue transforming stadiums and fields into spaces of tolerance and celebration of diversity. Join us!"

Emilien Buffard