UAE: The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), led by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has announced that Georgia has officially joined the United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) coalition.
This significant move took place on April 14, 2025, during a meeting between Ben Sulayem and Georgia’s Minister of Sport, Shalva Gogoladze, over the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. Georgia's participation marks the tenth country to commit to the UAOA campaign, which seeks to combat online harassment and hate speech across the world of sport.
By signing the UAOA Charter, Georgia solidifies its dedication to addressing the growing issue of online abuse, which has been shown to negatively affect mental health, participation, and the integrity of sports. The country now joins a global coalition of governments, sporting bodies, and tech platforms working together to create safer spaces for athletes, coaches, officials, and fans.
During their discussions, Ben Sulayem and Gogoladze shared insights on Georgia’s ‘Start to Talk’ campaign, aimed at encouraging the reporting of harassment and abuse in sports. The UAOA campaign will collaborate closely with Georgia to share best practices and strengthen cooperation through data and evidence exchange at UAOA events and conferences.
Founded by Ben Sulayem in 2022, the UAOA initiative has grown rapidly, with significant global support. In recognition of its impact, the campaign was awarded the Coalition for Peace award by Peace and Sport. Along with Georgia, the coalition now includes Greece, France, Slovenia, Albania, Australia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Namibia, and Rwanda, as well as ARISF, which represents over one million athletes worldwide. This growing coalition continues to drive positive change in sports, ensuring that online abuse does not have a place in the sporting community.
