Image: SuppliedThe University of the Western Cape (UWC) proudly celebrates Prof Marion Keim, who has been awarded the Jürgen Palm Award at the 29th TAFISA World Congress in Prague, Czech Republic, held from 13–17 May 2026.
TAFISA is the leading global organisation for Sport for All and physical activity, partnering with international bodies such as WHO, UNESCO, the African Union, IOC and FIFA. This year’s Congress, themed, “Sport for All: Building Bridges for Inclusion, Equity, and Harmony”, brought together nearly 400 organisations from more than 80 countries to explore ways of fostering cooperation, leadership and learning across cultural and social divides.
The opening ceremony featured the presentation of the prestigious TAFISA Awards. The Jürgen Palm Award, named in honour of TAFISA’s founding president, is the organisation’s highest accolade, reserved for individuals who have made a significant global contribution to the Sport for All movement. In 2026, this honour was bestowed on Prof Keim for her outstanding work in promoting sport and healthy lifestyles in South Africa and internationally, and for her leadership in advancing Sport for All for Development and Peace.
Image: SuppliedProf Keim holds the UNESCO Chair for Sport, Development, Peace and Olympic Education at UWC. She is also Secretary General of the Association of National Pierre de Coubertin Committees of Africa, President of the South African Pierre de Coubertin Committee, and Chairperson of the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace. An Advocate of the High Court of South Africa, she is certified in Mediation and Sports Law and has coordinated numerous national and international projects for UNESCO, IOC, IPC, GIZ, FIFA and the Commonwealth.
In addition to receiving the award, Prof Keim delivered a keynote address on 16 May — the International Day for Living Together in Peace — highlighting her research on African and Latin American sport mapping and UWC’s Campus@Peace Initiative. She emphasised the role of sport as a “bridge for peace” and called for a global movement that embraces Olympic Truce, values in education, Sport for All, and the African philosophy of Ubuntu.
Her message was clear: sport has the power to unite divided societies, and through collaboration and shared values, we can build a more peaceful world.
