The Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 Development Agenda

The enormous potential of sport, its global reach, its universal language, its impact on communities in general, and young people in particular, is a fact and is increasingly recognised around the world.

The possibility to play and enjoy recreation and sport in a safe and healthy environment is a human right embedded in numerous international instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The fundamental role of sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace was re-emphasised in UN Resolution A/69/L.5 adopted by member states on 16 October 2014. The resolution “encourages member states to give sport due consideration in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.”

The synthesis report of the UN Secretary General on the post-2015 agenda also recognises that sport plays a significant role in youth education and life-long learning and contributes to ensuring healthier lives.