International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is celebrated each year on April 6 by the United Nations. The day acknowledges the role that sports play in driving social, cultural and educational changes.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 67/296 on August 23, 2013, during its 67th session, which proclaimed April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The resolution report was published on September 18 of the same year, with the support of the International Olympic Committee. Coincidentally, it is also the day that marks the opening of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
The creation of this day was inspired by previous UN resolutions that aimed to promote events such as the International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal, the Olympic Truce, and the Olympic Ideal, which all sought to harness the power of sports to foster a more peaceful world. The “Day” serves as a platform to highlight the role of sports in promoting sustainable development, social cohesion, and international cooperation.
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace encourages active lifestyles and finding ways to make sport accessible to all. There’s also a special focus on getting more children to participate in sports.
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace recognizes the power of sport in promoting peace and overcoming cultural barriers. The International Olympic Committee and the United Nations are committed to using sport as a tool for social change. Both organizations have used sports to bridge cultural gaps and improve standards of education, health, and economic and social development around the world.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted the power of sport. “Sport has the power to align our passion, energy and enthusiasm around a collective cause. And that is precisely when hope can be nurtured and trust can be regained. It is in our collective interest to harness the tremendous power of sport to help build a better and more sustainable future for all.”
“Sport is the low-cost, high-impact tool to support all countries – big or small, rich or poor – to build together a more peaceful, healthier, more equal and more sustainable world for everyone
UNESCO as the United Nations’ lead agency for Physical Education and Sport (PES) also believes sport is a powerful vehicle for social inclusion, gender equality and youth empowerment, with benefits that are felt far beyond the stadiums. Indeed, the values acquired in and through sport “fair play and a team spirit” are invaluable to the whole of society. Sport has historically played an important role in all societies, be it in the form of competitive sport, physical activity or play.
The theme for the 2023 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is ‘Scoring for People and the Planet’.
This theme builds on previous years’ themes and provides a broad framework for IDSDP activities that highlight the positive effects of sports on sustainable development and peace. It emphasizes the role of sports in promoting environmental sustainability and social well-being, as well as the importance of using sports as a tool for achieving these goals.
In recognition of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the U.N. has said, “We recognize the growing 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 young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education, and social inclusion objectives.”
Sport programs to advance gender equity by engaging and supporting women and girls, promoting female leadership and encouraging respectful attitudes towards women and girls.
Sport facilitates intercultural and interreligious understanding between communities and contributes to the building of peaceful societies and prevention of Violent Extremism.
Sport activities provide opportunities for marginalized, underprivileged groups and people at risk of discrimination, to interact and integrate with other social groups, challenging social divides. It provides safe spaces, build relationships and create positive interactions between stakeholders in post-conflict situation and encourage dialogue between groups affected by conflict.
We strongly believe sport can help to shape a better future by creating positive real change as the day provides an annual opportunity for organisations and individuals to celebrate the power of sport to drive social change, community development, encourage equity and inclusion and to foster peace and understanding between individuals, communities, and nations.