UNESCO is an irreplaceable forum open to governmental bodies as well as sport organizations dealing with: ethics in sports, sport and education, physical activities and sports for all, sport and the environment, sport and traditional games, sport and advancement of women, sport and the culture of peace, etc. A diversity of activities which aim at exploring the link between sport and major issues of the contemporary societies.

UNESCO's and CIGEPS' (International Committee for Physical Education and Sport) action with regard to physical education and sport is based on the following five points:

1. The value of sport in the service of a culture of peace, through:

• safeguarding and promoting the ethical, moral and cultural values in sport,
  
• combating over-commercialization practices, doping and violence,
  
• reinforcing the actions of all who work to make sport - respecting equality and human dignity - a factor for positive growth, and instrument of peace, development and solidarity.

2. The development of physical education and sport within school, out-of-school and the permanent education systems.

3. Recognition of the important contribution made by sport in the domains of culture, environment, gender equality and social integration.

4. Systematically and continuously associating UNESCO with new forms of cooperation and collaboration at regional, national and international levels, with a view to developing policies and national programmes in physical education and sport as well as reducing marginality, inequality and imbalance between nations and the regions of the world.

5. Support in kind and services from extra-budgetary resources collected and allocated by the FIDEPS (International Fund for the Development of Physical Education and Sport).

MINEPS III

The Third International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS III) will take place from 30 November to 3 December 1999 in Punta del Este (Uruguay).