13 May 2020
Message from Ms Krista Pikkat, Director of UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty, on sport’s contribution to sustainable development
In Central Asia, UNESCO promotes sports, including the traditional sports and games originating from the region, as a means of promoting fair play principles, mutual respect and cultural diversity. One of the examples of how sport promotes intercultural dialogue, the ideals of peace and sustainable development in the region is the World Nomad Games that was held in Kyrgyzstan in 2018 under the auspices of UNESCO and which brought together participants from around the world to compete in 37 traditional sports games.
In 2019, the UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan to promote sports for development and peace. The agreement with the country's leading sports agency strengthened and helped shape our sports programmes.
In developing sports programmes for the region of Central Asia, we rely on the main policy priorities as defined in the Kazan Action Plan, which is the result of an effective partnership of 115 UNESCO Member States during the sixth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VI) on the development of a concept for inclusive access to sport in order to promote sport and physical activity among women and men of all ages.
UNESCO’s action is also defined in light of the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sports, which is the first legal document that proclaims that "physical education and sports are the fundamental right of every person".
When setting the agenda for sustainable development till 2030, the international community identified the contribution of sports and physical activity to this, in particular 10 Sustainable Development Goals: -SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
-SDG 4: Quality Education
-SDG 5: Gender Equality
-SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
-SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
-SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
-SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
-SDG13: Climate Change
-SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
-SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
As the connection of sports with the achievement of the Sustainable Development agenda may not be self-evident, we developed a series of interactive cards demonstrating the contribution that sports makes to the achievement of those ten Sustainable Development Goals.
We invite all the interested stakeholders, including youth organizations, sports and educational institutions, media resources, foundations and private sector partners to join forces with us to promote sports for the benefit of sustainable development and peace.
Alone, we can make a difference, but only together, we can change the world.
Krista Pikkat
Director of the UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty
For cooperation please contact Ms Arina Myassoyed (a.myassoyed@unesco.org)
To download Sports and SGDs Interactive Cards.pdf , please click on the file
Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/unesco-almaty-invites-stakeholders-for-cooperation-on-promotion-of-sports-for-development