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International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2015

© Flickr / AASU Armstrong University Archives

United action towards sustainable development for all through sport        

Message from Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO


Nelson Mandela once said, “sport has the power to change the world”.

We need this power more than ever today, to strengthen the grounds for more inclusive and sustainable development and lasting peace, in this year, when States shape a new global sustainable development agenda.

  In every society, sport is a field of dreams and a force for fabulous positive change


Irina Bokova
UNESCO Director-General

Especially in turbulent times, sport can be a powerful vehicle for social inclusion, gender equality, and youth empowerment, with benefits that extend far beyond the grounds of stadiums. There is nothing like sport to bring women and men from different cultures together around the shared values of fair play, mutual respect and team spirit. Sport and physical education are especially important for young people, for their health and civic engagement.

© Flickr / marmottekidor


Sport is a pillar of a healthy society, at ease with itself, united in its diversity, based on human rights and equal dignity. It provides a field for passions to be shared, for communities to come together, for the disadvantaged to be empowered.

This is the importance of the UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education and Sport, to bolster the right of access for all to physical education, physical activity, and sport. This same spirit guides UNESCO’s action in the fight against doping, through the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, and the Anti-Doping Convention, which 170 countries have signed. In August 2014, the World Youth Forum on Sport, Culture, and Peace was organized by UNESCO and the Nanjing Municipal Government, bringing young men and woman together from across the world to explore common challenges and solutions.

In every society, sport is a field of dreams and a force for fabulous positive change -- we must do everything to harness this power. This is UNESCO’s message on this International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

Download the message in PDF format
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Celebrating 6 April ...

In August 2013, the UN General Assembly made the decision to proclaim 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. (A/RES/67/296)

Why Sport?

Sport has historically played an important role in all societies, be it in the form of competitive sport, physical activity or play. But one may wonder: what does sport have to do with the United Nations? In fact, sport presents a natural partnership for the United Nations (UN) system, including UNESCO:

  • sport and play are human rights that must be respected and enforced worldwide;
  • sport has been increasingly recognized and used as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts, not only by the UN system but also by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), governments, development agencies, sports federations, armed forces and the media.

Sport can no longer be considered a luxury within any society but is rather an important investment in the present and future, particularly in developing countries.

International Charter

With the support of Member States, the International Olympic Committee and international experts, UNESCO is currently revising its International Charter of Physical Education and Sport. The Charter serves as a universal reference to all stakeholders in sport, physical education and physical activity. The draft of the revised Charter highlights principles such as gender equality, inclusivity, sustainability and integrity.

Quality Physical Education

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Did you know?

  • In 2008, 1.533 billion people were insufficiently physically active.

  • Physically active children are 15% more likely to go to college.

  • Physically active children are less likely to smoke, become pregnant, engage in risky sexual behavior, or use drugs.

  • Kids of active moms are 2x as likely to be active.

  • Physical inactivity is responsible for 6% of coronary heart disease, 7% of type 2 diabetes, and 10% of breast and colon cancers.

  • Sport mobilizes large numbers of committed volunteers, developing skills and networks that are transferable to other areas of social engagement.

  • Investment in sport (time, equipment, facilities) yields three times more than investment in medical costs savings.

  • It is estimated that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), connected to physical inactivity, will be the major cause of death in Africa by 2030.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

  • Hold a match, tournament or games to raise awareness among participants and the public about the formative values of sport ...

  • Rally your network around a group action representing 6 April (parade, run for peace, flash mob, photo or video conveying a particular message etc.).

  • Bring together political leaders, sports personalities, specialists or influential people from your community to debate and discuss the impact of sport on society.

  • Give free rein to your imagination and demonstrate how sport can be a tool for peace and development (exhibition, dance, drawing etc.).