Emma McClarkin MEP champions International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Yesterday (Weds 6th April) marked the third celebration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. This UN lead initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage the prioritisation of sport as a social action.

As Chairman of the Commonwealth Forum and the Conservative spokesman on Sport, Emma McClarkin MEP is keen to highlight the positive role that sport can play in aiding and supporting development.

Sport today is recognised as an ‘important enabler’, as defined by the UN under its Sustainable Development Goals. For this reason it is important that all nations, both developed and – crucially – those developing, either continue to or begin to invest in sport and are encouraged to improve physical activity through education.

Each year new initiatives are highlighted as part of this celebration, be it the establishment of community football tournaments in Sub-Saharan Africa, raising awareness of funding opportunities for remote communities in Latin America or signing up to petitions to overcome gender bias in sport.

Miss McClarkin said:

“Sport plays a vital role in strengthening community cohesion, in ensuring children have a childhood filled with enjoyment and games. It provides role models in societies where there are none and it crosses wider divides in society.

“That’s why I encourage people to learn more about the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace by going to www.sportanddev.org.”

A video by Miss McClarkin can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/161805936