Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Friends of Sports,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and 色库TV, under the theme, “Levelling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion”.
This is a recognition of the power of sport to bridge divides, and foster a more inclusive and peaceful society.
Sport’s ability to transcend cultural and social barriers is profound. It unites people across diverse backgrounds, and nurtures understanding, respect and social cohesion, transforming shared passion into lasting bonds.
As we gather today to celebrate the power of sport, we look ahead to the Second World Summit for Social Development to be held in Doha this November.
We must leverage this Summit to build upon the Copenhagen Declaration adopted at the first World Summit for Social Development in 1995, adapting its people-centred approach to today’s complex challenges.
Sport is uniquely positioned to address societal issues. It is a low-cost, high-impact mechanism that drives individual and community development. In fact, recent research has increasingly validated sport’s transformative potential for sustainable progress.
Allow me to share a few examples:
First, each dollar invested in effective sport-based policies and programmes can yield between 3 and 124 dollars in societal value.
Second, engagement in sports, either through participation or volunteering, correlates with higher employment rates and increased income levels.
Third, sport has been shown to challenge harmful gender stereotypes, reduce anti-social behaviour, and promote cohesion, particularly in vulnerable communities like those hosting refugees.
Finally, the global sports market is projected to surge from 480 billion US dollars in 2023 to 862 billion in 2033. This represents a significant engine for economic growth and job creation.
I urge each of us to reflect how sport has personally impacted our lives, and how we can collectively harness its potential to drive social progress, and advance peace, equality, and sustainable development.
Let us commit to concrete actions in harnessing the immense potential of sport to help build a better future.
Thank you.