The role of technology in advancing sport for development and peace

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, through its Division for Inclusive Social Development (DESA/DISD) has, since 2017, housed the substantive portfolio on sport for development and peace in the UN system. Guided by the UN Action Plan on Sport, DESA has been working to maximize the positive contributions of sport through its support for inter-governmental processes, research and thought leadership, capacity development work and partnerships.

DESA/DISD organizes the present multi-stakeholder dialogue as part of these efforts and in the context of the United Nations Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. The dialogue will bring together stakeholders from different sectors with diverse backgrounds and experiences to share new research and good practices and to identify challenges, opportunities and policy recommendations on a key issue: the critical role that technology can play in advancing sport as an enabler of development and peace.

This topic corresponds to General Assembly Resolution on Sport as an enable of sustainable development, which “invites Member States to work together with the United Nations system and other stakeholders to increase engagement and cooperation with one another to harness digital technology to advance sport as a tool to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, to support sport and physical activity at home, while broadening access to sport training and physical activity opportunities via online platforms.“

The Multi-stakeholder Dialogue will also contribute to the 2021 session of the Commission for Social Development, with its focus on Socially just transition towards sustainable development: the role of digital technologies on social development and well-being of all.

When: 15 December 2020, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. EST

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