The 11th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (11CSMM) is scheduled to take place in Paris, France on 25 July 2024, and the Commonwealth Secretariat will aim to further advance the commitments made at the 10th CSMM, particularly in key cross-cutting areas such as inclusion, youth development, health, education, entrepreneurship and skills development.
The potential for sport to have a positive impact on society is widely recognised. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development As a key driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Global sport and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with UNESCO, Global Sport and the Sustainable Development Goals Impact ReportThe report is the result of a long and fruitful process to develop a set of Global Sport and SDG Impact Indicators that align local, national and international sport policies and programmes with the SDGs. These indicators are designed to help countries and sports organisations monitor and evaluate how sport, physical education and physical activity are contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. Specifically, they help monitor sport’s contribution to the following areas:
• Health (SDG3)
• Quality Education (SDG4)
• Gender Equality (SDG5)
• Economic growth and decent work for all (SDG8)
• Reduce inequalities (SDG10)
• Sustainable consumption and environmental sustainability (SDGs 12 and 13)
• Protect athletes and participants from abuse and violence (SDGs 5 and 16)
• Build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions (SDG16).
Since the 10 CSMM, the Commonwealth Secretariat has been active in advancing the sport agenda in these areas. For example, the Commonwealth Secretariat has played a key role in facilitating and supporting member states in developing national sport policies and guidance on how sport can help provide educational opportunities for their populations, improve their health and wellbeing, promote inclusion and diversity, and generate economic development.
Interacting with local people
The Secretariat is currently working with The Gambia on the formulation of a National Sports Policy to promote national development through sport. SDGs. A key highlight of this effort was the interaction with local sports stakeholders who aspire to a more compassionate and winning nation through sports, which resulted in areas such as safeguarding and promoting the participation of women, girls, para-athletes and people with disabilities being included in the draft National Sports Policy.
Additionally, the Trinidad and Tobago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games was a great concrete example of the SDG indicators and Kazan Action Plan in action. The evaluation report highlighted that the games saw a total of 915 athletes and 32 para-athletes (including para-athletes SDG10), economic growth through the creation of 202 jobs (SDG8), training in safeguarding through the Athlete Impact Lab (SDG5 and SDG16), and increased female participation across team sports (SDG5). The evaluation report findings will be presented to the Commonwealth Minister of Sports during the 11CSMM.
Emphasizing the importance of inclusion
The appointment of Anne Wafula Strike MBE, PLY as the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Promoting Equality in Sport is a unique opportunity to bring a strong voice to the Commonwealth to create opportunities for disability participation in sport and the importance of inclusion. As a Paralympian, Wafula Strike will play a key role in encouraging Member State Governments to provide access to sport for young people with disabilities, ultimately accelerating the development of society as a whole in line with sport and SDG indicators.
Earlier this year, the Commonwealth hosted the 8th Commonwealth Sport Debate ahead of the 11th Sport Summit. Participants discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) is the answer to accelerating the power of sport to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The Commonwealth Secretariat is well aware of the instrumental role of AI in helping to achieve this goal, noting that the use of AI in sport is expected to generate approximately $30 billion by 2032.
The appointment of Ambassador Amina Mohamed as the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sport, Enterprise and Development further demonstrates the Commonwealth’s dedication to embracing intra-Commonwealth trade as a catalyst and mechanism for sports development. “Alongside sport, trade and investment contribute to advancing broader Commonwealth priorities such as peace and security, prosperity and sustainable development,” Ambassador Mohamed said.
The road to CHOGM
As the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) approaches in Apia, Samoa in October 2024, the 11CSMM aims to build consensus and collaboration on implementing priority actions that will lead to a united Commonwealth through sport, as we work towards the broader policy agenda of “One Resilient Common Future”.
