Sport as an enabler of SDG

Background:

The annual World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum is a global multi-stakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development. The Forum is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line co-/facilitators and other UN organizations (UNDESA, FAO, UNEP, WHO, UN Women, WIPO, WFP, ILO, WMO, ITC, UPU, UNODC, UNICEF,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNHCR and UN Regional Commissions). It provides an opportunity for information exchange, knowledge creation and sharing of best practices, while identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships, taking into account the evolving Information and Knowledge Societies.

In follow up to the outcomes of the UN General Assembly Overall Review of the Implementation of WSIS Outcomes (Res. A/70/125) and with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Res. A/70/1), the WSIS Forum is constantly evolving and strengthening the alignment between the WSIS Action Lines and the Sustainable Development Goals. The WSIS Forum will therefore serve as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with due regard to the global mechanism for follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Description

Sport is a key enabler to achieve the SDGs, this is also captured in the UN General Assembly resolution “Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development” (Document A/73/L.36), that addresses the  important contribution Sport has on Sustainable Development such as Empowerment of Women and Youth, Communities Development, Health, Education, and Social Inclusion.

In addition, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are key enablers to achieve all 17 SDGs. ITU as the lead UN Agency on ICTs is making all efforts to ensure that ICTs play an enabling role in achieving the SDGs by 2030. In recent years the role of ICTs in advancing Sport development has been very prominent, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games are the best example as they were considered the most digitalized Olympic Games in history, since it brought innovation and technology to advance the digitalization era of sports.

For the first time, during the WSIS Forum 2019 a new track will be introduced on Sport as an enabler of Sustainable Development, highlighting the aspects of youth empowerment and innovative technologies.

Objective

The objective of this thematic workshop is to facilitate and encourage for the first time, within the setting of the WSIS Forum, the promotion of Sport as an enabler of Sustainable Development, highlighting the aspects of youth empowerment and innovative technologies in the form of vibrant multistakeholder discussions, information exchange, sharing of best practices and knowledge creation.

Sport has the immense potential to bring people together from very diverse backgrounds and advance peace and development. This panel will focus on how to collaborate to maximize the potential of sport to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Outcomes

1.       Introduce the WSIS Forum to new stakeholders, as a global multi-stakeholder platform for advancing sustainable development.

2.       Enhanced knowledge sharing, dialogue and partnerships amongst WSIS stakeholders, related to the track on Sport as an enabler of Sustainable Development, highlighting youth empowerment and innovative technologies.

3.       The track on Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development will become a permanent subject of discussion in future WSIS Forums.

4.       Present potential future work related to the Sport and ICT track, under the WSIS process.