The UN General Assembly adopts resolution 63-51

Since 2003, the UN General Assembly has adopted an annual resolution on ‘sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace’ and the Secretary-General has reported to the General Assembly on the implementation of these resolutions and on progress at the national, regional and international levels. The Secretary-General has been requested to provide his next report at the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.

The current resolution invites Member States and international sport organizations to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in their capacity building efforts in sport and physical education, by providing national experiences and best practices, as well as financial, technical and logistic resources for the development of sport programmes.

The resolution, which was co-sponsored by 57 Member States, also made note of the “manifold” programmes and initiatives reviewed in the Secretary-General’s report. It acknowledged the positive impact of mass sports events, such as the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and made reference to the important work done by the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group, which will be incorporated into UNOSDP under the leadership of the Special Adviser during the course of 2009.