Israeli Sports Figures Tackle Bullying at RGE Media Conference

A conference titled "It's In Our Hands" will be held on Tuesday, November 17th, initiated by the RGE media group to address the pervasive issue of bullying and ostracism among Israeli youth. The event aims to highlight the need to combat these harmful behaviors, with a significant focus on the role sports can play in eradicating them.

One of the central panels will explore how sports values, learned through training and competition, can equip young people with tools to deal with physical, verbal, and digital bullying. These values include personal and group responsibility, teamwork, respect for coaches, teammates, and opponents. Sports commentator Omri Afek, who will participate in the panel, emphasized that sports mirror life's challenges, teaching competitiveness, handling disappointment, and cooperation.

Afek shared a personal experience of being ostracized as a teenager after standing up to a bully on the soccer field. He recounted how the situation was resolved when the bully apologized publicly before a school soccer championship, ensuring the bully would uphold his promise. Afek noted the crucial support he received from teachers and parents during that difficult time.

The sports panel will be moderated by sports news anchor Miri Nevo. Participants include Olympic medalist Raz Hershko and Lital Erez, VP of the Values in Sport Association. The conference seeks to underscore how sports foster self-worth, competence, and confidence in children, providing them with a sense of belonging that is not dependent on external factors.