FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007

Sport for development

Development from early childhood happens not only inside the classroom, but outside as well. In the school yard, and on playing fields, playgrounds, alleys and back streets around the globe, sport has played a key role in the healthy development of children, and has become an increasingly important tool for reaching out to children - and inculcating their development through engagement in sports.

Sport, recreation and play strengthen the health, minds and bodies of children. Sport possesses a special power and the capacity to change a life by improving psychological and physical well-being. It offers a sense of belonging and connectedness for orphans, street children and former child combatants, and teaches teamwork, sharing, discipline and respect for playing by the rules.

Playing for peace and equality

Since July 2002 – when UNICEF co-chaired a United Nations inter-agency task force with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, with the aim of promoting a more systematic and coherent use of sport in development and peace activities – UNICEF has been mobilizing governments to develop comprehensive strategies ensuring the right of every child to play, as called for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This means encouraging ministries to mobilize resources towards building new playgrounds, fields and stadiums, and developing sports programmes that help to rehabilitate children afflicted by war, poverty, epidemics and other problems.

Sport for development is also recognized as playing a significant role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. In particular, the eighth MDG calls for “concerted action to cultivate a global partnership for development.” Sports programmes can serve as an effective tool for social mobilization and can provide a venue to educate children on health issues such as HIV/AIDS and immunization.

Sport also can act as an economic force, providing employment and contributing to local development. It can be a natural draw for volunteer involvement, and a powerful tool for promoting ethnic and gender equality among young people.