Sport for Development
In 2022, Commonwealth Alumni were invited to design and deliver a Sport for Development themed community-focused activity to raise awareness of the role of sport as an important enabler of sustainable development.
Sport for Development: equality, diversity, and representation
The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) was introduced by Kofi Annan in 2001 to coordinate UN efforts in promoting sport as a means to achieve development and peace. Sport can play a critical role in achieving international development and is used across a range of interventions, from education and health to peacebuilding and gender equality, and it cuts across the SDGs.
In 2022, the UK hosted the Commonwealth Games. Held every four years, the Games are underpinned by the core values of humanity, equality, and destiny. In 2022, the Games were set to feature more para sports than ever before and had the largest integrated Para sport programme in history. It was also the first time a multisport event had more medal events for women than men.
To support the Sport for Development theme, Commonwealth Alumni were invited to deliver awareness activities in their chosen local communities to promote the potential of sport to advance equality, diversity, and representation.
Sport for Development ACEF activities
You can read about the Sport for Development themed activities delivered by Commonwealth Alumni below – as well as the impact these activities had on their chosen community.
Inclusive sports for senior citizens in India
Ageing is associated with the onset of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), being physically active is key to maintaining health, optimising physical function, and independent living for the elderly. Psychological wellbeing of older people is equally important and those who are active are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Imagined possibilities: Disability sports and inclusive higher education
On 3 December 2022, Commonwealth Alumnus Abass Isiaka marked International Day for People with Disabilities (PWDs) by delivering an awareness event on the topic, ‘Imagined possibilities: Disability sports and inclusive higher education’, at the University of Ilorin (UoI), Nigeria. The activity promoted the 2021/2022 ACEF theme, Sports for Development.
Parasport Awareness Day in Botswana
On 18 February 2023, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Kagiso N Tlhabano-David delivered a one-day event to raise awareness of parasport. The event was held at the University of Botswana, Botswana. The activity promoted the 2022/23 ACEF theme, Sport for development.
Helping girls achieve their goals through football
On 16-17 July 2022, the Commonwealth of Dominica Scholars Alumni Association (CDCSAA) collaborated with the Dominican Football Association (DFA) to deliver the event, ‘Girls with Goals’, for the National Under 15 (U-15) Girls Football Team. The event aimed to promote equality, diversity and representation of girls in sport.
Increasing societal awareness of visually impaired persons through inclusive sports in Lagos, Nigeria
On 22 September 2022, Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Omojeme Esther Adomi delivered an activity designed to promote societal awareness of persons with visual disabilities and change perceptions amongst sighted high school students, using sport as a medium. The activity comprised a sensitisation workshop and a sports event and promotes the 2021/22 ACEF theme, Sport for development.
