Yasmin Bhudarally, President of the Ismaili Council for Portugal, welcomed the audience and emphasized the importance of promoting "cultural understanding for peaceful coexistence and collaboration. Exhibitions offer a tangible and accessible means of achieving this goal, making them powerful tools for promoting empathy, respect and mutual appreciation between people from different cultural backgrounds." President Yasmin highlighted the Ismaili Centre's mission to serve as a space that articulates thought and has a positive impact on Society, echoing the words of Mawlana Hazar Imam at the Centre's Groundbreaking Ceremony.

In his speech, Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat for the Portuguese Republic, said: "Sport has always been an important component for the Ismaili Community, including for its cohesion. Initiatives such as the Jubilee Games, which bring together the worldwide Ismaili Community in athletic competitions and create a literacy around sport and athletics, are just one example. This exhibition reminds us of those values."

Dr António Rendas, a member of the Aga Khan University's Board of Trustees, highlighted football's unique power to build bridges and its ability to bring people together, values that are so important to AKU. António Rendas also highlighted the collaborative efforts between the Aga Khan University and Portuguese institutions, emphasising the commitment to knowledge exchange and cooperation initiatives.

We invite the  Jamat to gather family and friends and visit the exhibition "Football and Religion: Tales of Hope, Passion & Play" at the Ismaili Centre, Lisbon, until 12 October 2023. Explore this unique narrative that shows the unifying power of football and religion, as well as the shared values they represent.