A list of key documents relevant to sport and development policy.
This page introduces key documentation relevant to sport and development policy, divided by topic. That includes policy frameworks such as international agreements and resolutions, alongside analysis and toolkits advising policymakers on how to implement those frameworks.
For more background information on the sport and development policy environment, please consult the following resources:
If you feel that an important document is missing from the list below, please feel free to let us know on [email protected].
The Sustainable Development Goals
- Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (United Nations, 2015)
- The Kazan Action Plan (UNESCO, 2017)
- Blog: The Kazan Action Plan – An overhaul of sports policy tactics (Oliver Dudfield, Commonwealth Secretariat, 2017)
- Enhancing the Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable Development Goals (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2017)
- Sport for Development and Peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2015)
- Sport and the Sustainable Development Goals: An overview outlining the contribution of sport to the SDGs (United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, 2016)
- The Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 Agenda: The Position of the International Olympic Committee, on behalf of the Olympic and Sport Movement (International Olympic Committee, 2015)
- UN presents a new toolkit for action on how sports can contribute to achieve SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals Fund, 2018)
- Sport and the sustainable development goals (sportanddev, 2018)
- Achieving SDGs through Sport: Partnerships and institutional responses for greater coherence and effectiveness (The Swiss Confederation, the Cantons of Geneva and Vaud, 2017)
UNESCO Charter of Physical Education and Sport
- International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (UNESCO, 2015)
- International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (UNESCO, 1978)
- The Quality Physical Education Guidelines for Policymakers (UNESCO 2015)
- Blog: UNESCO Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport: A step in the right direction (Leena Woodhouse-Ledermann, Swiss Academy for Development, 2015)
United Nations Declarations and Resolutions
- UN Resolution - Sport for development and peace: Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideals (United Nations, 2015)
- UN General Assembly Resolution 58/5: Sport as a means to promote health, education, development and peace (United Nations, 2003)
- UN Resolution A/73/L.36: Sport as an enabler of sustainable development (United Nations, 2018)
- Blog: United Nations Resolution recognises the importance of sport for sustainable development (International Olympic Committee, 2018)
- UN General Assembly Resolution 60/9: Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace (United Nations, 2006)
- UN General Assembly Resolution 61/10: Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace (United Nations, 2006)
Continental policy frameworks
- Statute Of The African Union Sport Council (African Union, 2016)
- Vientiane Declaration on Sports Cooperation in ASEAN (ASEAN, 2013)
- European Commission White Paper on Sport Seventh Report of Session 2007–08 (The House of Commons, 2008)
- European Commission White Paper On Sport (European Commission, 2007)
- Policy Framework For The Sustainable Development Of Sport In Africa 2008-2018 (African Union, 2018)
Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS)
- Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport: Chair’s Statement (CABOS, 2018)
- Communique: 9th Commonwealth Sports Meeting (CABOS, 2018)
- 7th Commonwealth Sports Meeting: Templates - Against the Manipulation of Sports Meetings (CABOS, 2014)
- Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport: Report January 2006 (CABOS, 2006)
- More information on CABOS (Commonwealth Secretariat)
Magglingen Conferences
- The Magglingen Declaration (Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, FOSPO, SDC, 2003)
- The Magglingen Call to Action (Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, FOSPO, SDC, 2005)
International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS)
- Declaration of Berlin (UNESCO, 2013)
- The Kazan Action Plan (UNESCO, 2017)
Policy documents from sports federations
- Olympic Agenda 2020 20+20 Recommendations (IOC, 2017)
- Transformation 2022 The Commonwealth Games Federation Strategic Plan 2015–2022 (Commonwealth Games Federation, 2015)
- Accelerating the global development of women in rugby 2017-25 (World Rugby)
Sports integrity
- Policy Guidance to Commonwealth Governments on Protecting the Integrity of Sport (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2016)
- Code of Ethics (International Olympic Committee, 2018)
- Declaration of Core Principles on Sport Integrity (Sport Integrity Global Alliance, 2016)
- Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement (International Olympic Committee, 2008)
- Good Governance Universal Standards Implementation Guidelines (Sport Integrity Global Alliance, 2016)
- Universal Standards on Sports Betting Integrity (Sport Integrity Global Alliance, 2016)
- Building more Effective, Accountable, and Inclusive Institutions for All (OECD, 2014)
Corruption
- United Nations Convention against Corruption (United Nations Office on the Desistance of Crime, 2005)
Doping
- International Convention Against Doping in Sport (UNESCO, 2005)
- World Anti-Doping Code (World Anti-Doping Agency, 2015)
Human rights
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations General Assembly, 1948)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UNHCR, 1966)
- Online platform: Centre for Sport and Human Rights
- Rights Through Sport: Mapping Sport For Development And Peace (IHRB, 2018)
- The London Declaration: Declaration on Sport and Human Rights (Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, 2018)
- Commonwealth Games Federation Human Rights Policy Statement (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2017)
- States’ Obligations Under International Human Rights Conventions (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2018)
- Article: Progress on Embedding Human Rights within Commonwealth Sports Policy (David Rutherford, New Zealand Human Rights Commission, 2018)
Disability
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations, 2008)
- Sport in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (International Disability in Sport Working Group and United Nations Office of the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, 2007)
- Sport and disability: Policy, practice and future priorities (sportanddev)
- Uganda Disability Sport Summit Final Report and Action Plan (Jen Howitt Browning, 2012)
Gender
- Gender equality in sport (European Institute of Gender Equality, 2015)
- What is gender mainstreaming? (European Institute of Gender Equality)
- Blog: The Equity Call: Why we need authentic, measurable and accountable gender mainstreaming in sport for development (Maria Bobenrieth, Women Win, 2015)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (United Nations, 1979)
- Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (UN Women, 1997)
- Brighton plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on Women and Sport (IWG Women and Sport, 2014)
- The Windhoek Call for Action (IWG Women and Sport, 1998)
- The Botswana Big Five: The IWG World Conference on Women and Sport launches its legacy (sportanddev, 2018)
- Policy development in gender and sport (sportanddev)
Child protection and safeguarding
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 1989)
- Protecting Children from Violence in Sport (UNICEF, 2010)
- Strengthening Sport for Development and Peace: National Policies and Strategies, Chapter 4 (Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport and Commonwealth Secretariat, 2014)
- International Safeguards for Children in Sport (International Safeguarding Children in Sport Working Group, 2014)
- Child Protection and Safeguarding in Sport Toolkit (sportanddev, 2014)
- Learn more about child protection and safeguarding in sport (sportanddev, 2014)
Policy coherence
- Strengthening Sport-Related Policy Coherence (Commonwealth Secretariat, 2018)
- Tracking progress on policy coherence for sustainable development
at the national level: What and how to measure? (OECD, 2017) - Why policy coherence in sport matters (OECD, 2017)
- Achieving SDGs through Sport: Partnerships and institutional responses for greater coherence and effectiveness (The Swiss Confederation, the Cantons of Geneva and Vaud, 2017)
- Effective Mainstreaming of Sport in Development programmes and Policies: Coherence, Funding and Measurement (Davies Banda, University of Edinburgh, 2018)
Other
- Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 (World Health Organization, 2018)
