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From July 23-29, Sarah Stangl Karas, Soccer Without Borders (SWB) Colorado Program Manager, will be volunteering at Festival 24, an International Inclusive Festival to be held in Paris and Lyon, France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Born out of Sport dans la Ville’s desire to share the joy and excitement of the Paris Olympics with young people from around the world, Festival 24 is a powerful event bringing together 500 young people in 64 delegations from 36 different countries. The mission of the festival is to offer a unique and transforming international experience centered around the keys to equality and excellence instilled by the 2024 Olympic Games.
Festival 24 is not your typical conference; it's a global celebration of diversity, inclusion, and cultural exchange. Participants will engage in various activities – including sports and cultural programming, creative workshops, and more – all with the aim of empowering young people, fostering international friendships, and inspiring a new generation of leaders through the unifying power of sports.
Sarah’s time at Festival 24 highlights SWB's commitment to the values we share with Sport dans la Ville. As a longtime leader in sports-based youth development and inclusive programming, Sarah is a passionate champion of SWB's mission of using soccer as a vehicle for positive change. With her support of the United by Sports Forum, a key component of Festival 24, she will have opportunities to share her expertise on the impact of soccer for newcomer youth, exchange ideas with other leaders in the field, and spotlight SWB's vision on an international stage.
A look back at Festival 19 in Lyon, France, where SWB sent a delegation of participants in 2019.
Sarah will also be supporting Festival 24 as a team guide, responsible for supporting three delegations composed of youth hailing from various different countries around the world. This responsibility includes ensuring the delegates are able to make the most of their time together by having all the information for the day, knowing where they need to be at all times, and staying safe throughout the event. The unique setup of Festival 24 delegations (each including a mix of young people representing different nationalities) encourages international camaraderie and cultural exchange among participants.
This opportunity to unify young people from around the world is perfectly suited to Sarah’s 10-plus years of experience as a dedicated leader, working with and advocating for newcomer communities in the USA and internationally. Having previously worked for five years as a case manager at a refugee resettlement organization, Sarah has developed a passion for working with multicultural communities and helping them to flourish. Now, at Festival 24, she will have the opportunity to harness this passion on the grandest of stages.
In addition to guiding the delegations and supporting the United By Sports Forum, Sarah will attend the games’ Opening Ceremonies and will help lead delegates in practicing various Olympic and Paralympic sport activities.
"As a lifelong soccer player and French speaker,” reflected Sarah, “my participation in Festival 24 feels like the perfect way to further SWB's global impact during my sixth year with the organization. I am looking forward to learning from the youth delegates about the way sport has positively impacted their lives, and interacting with global organizations I have exchanged with in the past, such as Right to Play. During these divisive times, we need gatherings such as Festival 24 to celebrate the power of sport to unite, bridge cultural divides, and teach tolerance."
At SWB, we believe in the power of sports to break down barriers and build a more inclusive and equitable world. Festival 24 exemplifies these principles by bringing together a diverse group of young people to learn from one another and work towards shared goals. Sarah's involvement in this event underscores our dedication to fostering global connections and empowering all youth, regardless of background, through the global game of soccer.
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