The Role of Sport-for-Development
What is Sport-for-Development
Sport for Development can be defined as using the power of sport
to build on the values of development, such as equity, inclusion
and sustainability, promoting children’s development, furthering
social inclusion and cohesion, and contributing to health,
education and economic development
UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace (2003)
International Recognition of the Sector
Sport is recognised for the potential contribution towards
MDGs.
Well-designed sports programmes are also a cost-effective way to contribute significantly
to health, education, development and peace as a powerful medium through which to
mobilize societies as well as communicate key messages.
(UN Inter-Agency Task Force, 2003, p5)
NGOs combine both sport skills and life skills
Sport is a viable and practical tool to support the
achievement of the MDGs
Sport is a powerful vehicle to complement existing UN
activities.
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Why Sport?
‘Sport is a universal language’ – Mandela
It’s an effective vehicle for social mobilisation and education
It has potential to connect people and communities from
diverse backgrounds
©Magic Bus
Case Studies Meeting MDGs
Poverty and Hunger – Majority of SfD NGOs
Universal Primary Education - Right To Play /Magic Bus
Gender and Women – Go Sisters (EduSport)
Reduce Child Mortality – Right to Play
Improve Maternal Health – Go Sisters
HIV/AIDS – Kicking AIDS Out Network
Environmental sustainability – MYSA
Global partnerships for development – Majority of SfD NGOs
Role of Policy Makers
Policy makers ‘still have that mentality of play in their understanding of
sport and, therefore, they can’t think how a ball can help a child with HIV
[with], you know, life skills.’
(Director, Larger Sport-for-Development NGO)
Governments need to acknowledge the power of sport
Assist in integration of Sport-for-development NGOs into Poverty
Reduction Strategies.
Enable access to financial resources such as distributor of Global
Funds
Ensure collaboration among local, national and international
sport-for-development agencies
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