General Assembly reaffirms potential of sports for positive social change

The General Assembly today renewed its support for sports as a vehicle for positive social change, underlining the potential of athletics to promote such issues as development, education, health, gender equality and conflict prevention.

“The continuous commitment by the world’s nations to promote sport as a efficient policy tool and its capability to be used as a catalyst for development and peace is key to the success of initiatives at the grassroots level,” said Wilfried Lemke, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser.

The resolution adopted today by the 192-member Assembly also encourages the use of sports to foster the inclusion and well-being of people with disabilities, as well as to facilitate conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

The increasing importance of sports in the UN has been evidenced by the passing of similar resolutions since 2003.

Mr. Lemke, who attended today’s Assembly debate, will travel tomorrow to Haiti, where he will explore the potential of sport and physical activity to promote recovery efforts following the devastating January earthquake.