2025: Building Bridges.Creating Opportunities

For the first time, with a world governing body as partner, the UNITED Hockey Camp of the Coubertin meets Dunant Foundation brings together international young talents, top clubs and refugee players for a unique week of sport, integration and empowerment as part of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

We are particularly proud that in 2026 we have succeeded for the first time in securing a world federation as a partner for our UNITED Camp: With the International Ice Hockey Federation, the United Ice Hockey Camp 2026 of the Coubertin meets Dunant Foundation is supported by an official global partner for the very first time. Embedded in the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, participants can look forward to an intensive week from 17–23 May 2026 featuring daily on- and off-ice training sessions, BE KIND Sessions, intercultural encounters, visits to World Championship games in Fribourg and Zurich, a panel at the IIHF Coaching Symposium, as well as a charity game followed by a gala dinner. Special highlights for the young participants also include meeting international Hall of Fame players.

Alongside extensive sport and ice hockey activities, the BE KIND Sessions – which are central to the core mission of the Coubertin meets Dunant Foundation – form an essential part of the programme. In these sessions, sporting and humanitarian values such as respect, compassion and responsibility are conveyed in a practical way, encouraging conscious, kind actions that create a lasting impact both within the team and in everyday life.

Through this initiative, we are making a strong statement both in sporting and social terms for the UNITED spirit: The two top organisations, SCL Tigers from Langnau and the Red Bull Ice Hockey Academy, are purposefully complemented by players from Iran and Lebanon, as well as four Ukrainian participants from our CmD Refugee Programme. This creates two teams that combine sporting excellence with lived integration – a visible symbol of solidarity across cultural and national boundaries.

With this year’s United Hockey Camp, we are setting a sustainable example and creating meaningful perspectives for young people. We harness the unifying power of sport to drive real social change.