The birth of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, thus establishing a historic link with the opening date of the first Olympic Games in 1896. Since 2014, this day is celebrated every year.
The IOC, as a permanent observer to the United Nations, supports this initiative because it knows that this day is a way to recognize the mission and action of sports organizations in the context of social change and human development. More specifically, it is an opportunity for the IOC to highlight how athletes and the Olympic Movement use sport to encourage peace, reconciliation and development, underlining the Games' ability to promote tolerance and solidarity between participants, fans and people around the world.
Read the full text of the UN resolution.
Sport, a universal tool at the service of development.
In 2015, a historic event for the Olympic and Sports Movement, the United Nations' final document on the Sustainable Development Goals officially mentions sport as an "important partner" in sustainable development. In this context, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is an ideal platform for advocating with governments for increased investment in sport, related infrastructure and education. quality physics for young people.
Using sport to encourage development and peace has been one of the main missions of the IOC since its creation in 1894. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the IOC, was very explicit about his wish to make Olympism a forum to promote harmony between individuals and countries. It is therefore particularly appropriate that this International Day highlights the positive role of sport and physical education at all levels, whether it is occasional practice or competitive sport.
It is also an opportunity to show how the IOC, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International (IF) and national sports federations, sports clubs, governmental and non-governmental organizations, neighborhood associations, other entities and volunteers put sport at the service of humanity.
