AFRO-NETS> Sport as a Tool for Development and Peace

[Claudio Schuftan <aviva@netnam.vn>]

Sport as a Tool for Development and Peace
-----------------------------------------
Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals
 
From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)
<EQUIDAD@LISTSERV.PAHO.ORG>
 
Report from the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport 
for Development and Peace September, 2003
 
Available online as Adobe PDF file (36 pp. 987 kB) at:
http://www.un.org/themes/sport/reportE.pdf
 
This report analyses in detail the potential contribution that 
sport can make towards achieving the United Nations Millennium 
Development Goals (MDGs). It provides an overview of the growing 
role that sports activities are playing in many United Nations 
programmes and the lessons learned. It also includes recommenda-
tions aimed at maximizing and mainstreaming the use of sport.
 
United Nations efforts to assist countries to achieve the MDGs 
include various actors working in partnership for sustainable de-
velopment and peace. In particular, the eighth MDG calls for con-
certed action to cultivate "a global partnership for develop-
ment".
 
The world of sport presents a natural partnership for the United 
Nations system. By its very nature sport is about participation. 
It is about inclusion and citizenship. Sport brings individuals 
and communities together, highlighting commonalties and bridging 
cultural or ethnic divides. Sport provides a forum to learn 
skills such as discipline, confidence and leadership and it 
teaches core principles such as tolerance, cooperation and re-
spect. When these positive aspects of sport are emphasized, sport 
becomes a powerful vehicle through which the United Nations can 
work towards achieving its goals.
 
The fundamental elements of sport make it a viable and practical 
tool to support the achievement of the MDGs. Sport has an impact 
on health and reduces the likelihood of many diseases. Sports 
programmes serve as an effective tool for social mobilization, 
supporting health activities such as HIV/AIDS education and immu-
nization campaigns. Sport can be a significant economic force, 
providing employment and contributing to local development. It is 
also a key site and natural draw for volunteer involvement. Fur-
thermore, participation in sport supports the preservation of a 
clean and healthy environment.
 
Sport also provides healthy alternatives to harmful actions, such 
as drug abuse and involvement in crime. Within schools, physical 
education is an essential component of quality education. Not 
only do physical education programmes promote physical activity; 
there is evidence that such programmes correlate to improved aca-
demic performance.

--
To send a message to AFRO-NETS, write to: afro-nets@healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe afro-nets OR unsubscribe afro-nets
To contact a person, send a message to: afro-nets-help@healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.afronets.org