International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
In August 2013, the UN General Assembly made the decision to proclaim 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
UNESCO is the United Nations’ lead agency for Physical Education and Sport (PES). UNESCO believes that 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 – such as fair play and a team spirit – are invaluable to the whole of society.
Why Sport?
Sport can no longer be considered a luxury within any society but is rather an important investment in the present and future, particularly in developing countries.
On this International Day, our Organization celebrates the virtues and universal values of sport. It hopes to remind us how much the practice of sport, which allows us to care for both our physical and mental health, also carries with it the ethical principle of peaceful coexistence, something which we particularly need in these troubled times.
What UNESCO does
What's happening
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, discusses how UNESCO is using sport to tackle physical inactivity, mental health issues and inequality.
UNESCO’s new sport initiative Fit for Life uses sport as a solution to drive health, education and equality outcomes. It is designed to accelerate COVID-19 recovery, support inclusive and integrated policy making, and enhance the well-being of youth around the world.
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