As a global observance, International Day of Sport focuses on the power and universality of sports as a tool to drive positive social change and contribute to sustainable development and peace worldwide. This year, a special event at United Nations Headquarters will bring together members of the international sporting community, including those involved in the UN Football for the Goals initiative, to share best practices and explore collaborative opportunities to advance social change through sport.
Throughout the world, millions of people benefit from the positive impact of sports. It promotes physical and mental development, better health, disease resistance, social integration, gender equality, economic progress, international collaboration, brotherhood and more. This is why the UN General Assembly officially designated April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace in 2013, as part of an increasing recognition by the international community of the positive influence that sports can have on advancing human rights and driving social and economic progress.
The theme for the 2024 International Day of Sport is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies.” It highlights the unique ability of sports to bring together communities, foster social change, and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this respect, the IOC’s Olympism365 programme brings sport’s empowering values to every corner of the globe by empowering people through the transformative powers of play. Together with partners, the Olympism365 programme aims to create safer, healthier, more equitable and more inclusive societies by working towards the SDGs through sport’s innate capacity for good.
For example, the Olympism365 programme’s work to empower youth through education and skills development in sport is a crucial component of its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. The program provides young people with a range of training and educational activities to build lifelong learning skills that will help them in the workplace and in their personal lives, regardless of the path they choose after leaving school. You can also visit 해외스포츠중계 to see how they celebrate!
It also helps them develop a sense of belonging to their communities by helping them identify with the values of Olympism and the Olympic flag. These values, which include fair play, excellence, friendship and respect, are at the heart of all sports, and can be learned through a wide variety of sports and activities.
FISU and UNESCO members are invited to celebrate this important day through tailor-made events according to their culture and specific needs. For instance, universities often organize IDUS-related events such as leisure sport activities, competitions and discussion workshops. This allows them to confirm their role as responsible actors for consolidating and developing quality physical and sport education at the service of citizens. This is a key aspect of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. This is the key to achieving global prosperity and sustainable development.