GIDABUDAY KUHAMASISHA UJENZI WA KIJIJI CHA MICHEZO TANZANIA LENYE JINA YA MWANARIADHA MKONGWE BW.JOHN STEPHEN AKHWARI

The United Nations have long recognized, advocated for and supported the important contributions of sport to development and peace, with a significant record of General Assembly and Human

Rights Council resolutions, UN treaties, Secretary-General’s reports and other guiding documents

highlighting the unique potential of sport.

The processes and milestones which led to the historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 were followed by the Sport

for Development and Peace community with strong interest and a commitment to continue using

sport as a unique tool to support this new global plan of action. As a result of joint efforts, particularly

including UN Member States’ support to recognize the contribution of sport to the SDGs, Heads of

State and Government and High Representatives declared in the Political Declaration for the new

Agenda:

 

 Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the grow-
ing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of
tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and
of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social
inclusion objectives (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development A/RES/70/1, paragraph
37).

 

This unprecedented recognition offers a compelling incentive and an unmissable opportunity for

further joint efforts and action in the field Sport for Development and Peace. With the aspiration of

leaving no one behind and maximizing the contribution of sport for a better and peaceful world, sport

will continue advancing development as a powerful enabler of the SDGs, as it did for the preceding

MDGs. Sport’s potential should therefore be revisited in view of the new framework for sustainable

development in order to promote synergy, coherence and harmonization of programmes for the

implementation of the SDGs. Overall, the global reach and appeal of sport is an extraordinary tool

at our disposal for promoting a global outlook on sport at the service of advancing the achievement

the SDGs.

The contributions of sport to the SDGs outlined in this overview reflect the expertise, experiences

and welcome input of various SDP players, including UN entities and sport and development organi-

zations, which have used sport and recognized its value as a flexible tool for enabling development

and peace outcomes.

Drawing from that experience, this overview addresses sport’s role and potential in relation to all 17

SDGs, being mindful of the importance of each goal. While doing so, it however discerns between

the SDGs where greater evidence and practice with regard to the contributions of sport were identi-

fied – marked with the SDG wheel symbol - and those SDGs where sport has a more limited or

indirect potential.

Ultimately, the present overview aims at informing, inspiring, encouraging and supporting sport’s

contributions to the SDGs by relevant stakeholders including States, entities of the United Nations

system, sport-related organizations, sport federations and associations, foundations, non-govern-

mental organizations, athletes, the media, civil society, academia and the private sector.

Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the grow-ing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of

tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and

of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social

inclusion objectives (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development A/RES/70/1, paragraph

37).