To mark International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (15 April), Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has made an address this week at the United Nations in New York to shore up the organisation’s reputation as a force for good in the sports and wider world.
Reflecting the significance of this unusual event, Bach was joined by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President of the UN General Assembly H.E. Sam Kutesa.
The IOC has recently updated the Olympic charter to reflect the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, barring discrimination "of any kind such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religions, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status"
Bach used his address to stress sport’s role in development but also to underline the IOC’s commitment to its grassroots.
"Sport has a unique role in society," the German said. "Sport is the only area of human existence that has achieved its own universal law. The rules of sport are recognised and followed wherever sport is played. They are based on a global ethic of fair play, respect for opponents, tolerance and friendship. In sport all people are equal."
The IOC President continued: "Sport and physical education programmes provide a strong incentive for school attendance and contribute to a broad spectrum of life skills. Sport teaches respect for rules and respect for others, tolerance, non-discrimination, team-building, communication, decision-making and problem-solving. It promotes self-esteem, personal responsibility and self-discipline. Active children are learning more effectively. Sport is not a distraction from education – it is an important part of education."
Bach then went on to make the case for the support which the IOC offers to its members, stating that 90% of its revenues are now reinvested in supporting athletes, amounting to about $3.25m a day.
Ban Ki Moon went on to say how he believes that sport should be at the centre of peace and development. "I sincerely hope that the Member States of the United Nations, while they negotiate to shape the future development agenda [see] the importance of sport, not only in health, but in peace and harmony, reconciliation, mutual understanding and respect for others, and fair games and rule of law and human rights."
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, also spoke at the event, emphasising the benefits of introducing fair play and good values to children through early in their lives through school sport.
"Apart from the obvious health benefits, sport helps the individual to help themselves, and enables them to achieve personal freedom. It awakens their hearts, minds and souls so that they can discover with a passion their own talent."
"Looking at the advantages sport can bring, it makes sense to get young people active and involved as early as possible. The best way to achieve this is through school. In my view very few academic subjects can teach such a wide range of skills as sport."
"Together we need to embark on a long-term programme of education where sport and activity play a key role in encouraging people to maximise their development of what they possess, not worrying about what they don’t."
Adding her support the views put forward, Emma Boggis, Chief Executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said, “Ensuring sport and recreation are accessible and open to all is a fundamental right and it’s excellent that the Olympic Charter puts this recognition in writing.”
"It is just as encouraging to see the recognition of the importance of school sport towards the health and wellbeing of individuals. This is something we have put forward as a key part of our five-step plan for a more active population."
"By encouraging young people to participate in sport and recreation from an early age teaches them skills and values that will benefit them for their entire lives. It’s vital that PE and physical literacy become a cornerstone of any good education for all children and young people."
