Government

FIA’s United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign has welcomed a Palestinian student, Ghada Ashour, to its flagship, fully funded scholarship programme aimed at developing new research in the fight against online abuse in sport.

Ashour, 24, who grew up in Gaza, has been selected as the fifth scholar in the programme and will undertake her research at Dublin City University in Ireland after previously studying remotely. She was chosen for her academic interest in social media and her commitment to expanding practical knowledge on protecting athletes and sports communities from digital harm.

Launched in 2023, the UAOA scholarship programme supports talented students and young professionals from a range of backgrounds, offering opportunities to conduct research into the impact, prevalence and prevention of online abuse in sport. The initiative is funded by FIA Foundation and focuses on developing evidence-based solutions that can be applied across global sporting environments.

Ashour’s research will examine the link between athlete activism and online abuse, exploring how athletes speaking out on social, political and environmental issues can attract both positive attention and significant levels of digital harassment. Her thesis will be published in English and translated into Arabic to broaden access to her findings.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA and founder of UAOA, said the programme reflects the organisation’s commitment to education and safeguarding the future of sport by empowering the next generation of researchers.

Recent findings from the UAOA 2025 Barometer Report showed that 75 per cent of sports federations continue to report threats against athletes and their families, while 90 per cent believe online abuse could drive athletes to leave their sport.

Under the programme, scholars receive full funding, expert mentorship, hands-on experience in research and analysis, and opportunities to present their work to policymakers, sports federations and digital platforms.

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