Today is International Day of Sports Development for Peace.
6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly.
The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the United Nations of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.
The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) was introduced by Kofi Annan in 2001.
Its mandate is to coordinate the efforts undertaken by the United Nations in promoting sport in a systematic and coherent way as a means to contribute to the achievement of development and peace.
In its Resolution (A/RES/67/296) establishing the Day, the General Assembly “invites States, the United Nations system and, in particular, the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant international organizations, and international, regional and national sport organisations, civil society including, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate, observe and raise awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.”
According to Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General , he described sports as a global language. He said that ”sports is a common denominator that breaks down all the walls, all the barriers. It is a worldwide industry whose practices can have widespread impact. Most of all, it is a powerful tool for progress and for development”.
UNOSDP
