Executive Summary
Sport has the capacity to transform the lives of individuals.1 It bolsters physical,
psychological, emotional, and social well-being and development. At the same time sport
plays a significant role in cultures and communities around the world. These factors alone
justify investment in sports programming. But there is also a growing understanding that
sports programs merit support because they are powerful vehicles for achieving broader
goals, particularly in advancing development and peace agendas.
The development community has typically marginalized sport, viewing it as a relatively
low priority among a host of needs and goals. Recently, though, an international
movement has taken root that recognizes that sport does not have to compete with other
development priorities but can instead be a powerful means for addressing them. The
United Nations, the Inter-American Development Bank, governments, the International
Olympic and Paralympic Committees, non-governmental organizations, and corporate
entities have banded together to think strategically about sport for development and
peace. At the field level, dozens of programs have been harnessing the power of sport for
physical education, humanitarian response, reconciliation and peace building,
rehabilitation and integration of persons with disabilities, advocacy and social/policy
change, awareness raising and education, and economic development.
Much work must still be done to fully link the international movement to practitioners in
the field and to bring the sport and development sectors together. Carried out wisely,
however, sports programming has the potential to play an important role in fostering
development and peace.
The Transformational Power of Sport
Both formal studies and a wealth of anecdotal evidence have demonstrated that
participation in sport has countless benefits for individuals. Among the most obvious
positive outcomes are improvements in physical health, such as weight control, strength
building, increased flexibility, enhanced coordination and motor skills, improved
cardiovascular health, and pain reduction. People who are physically active often tend to
develop healthier lifestyles and better eating habits.
A second, but no less important, beneficial aspect of sport is the impact that it has on
psychological and emotional healing and well-being. Sport provides a positive outlet fo
Sport has the capacity to transform the lives of individuals.1 It bolsters physical,
psychological, emotional, and social well-being and development. At the same time sport
plays a significant role in cultures and communities around the world. These factors alone
justify investment in sports programming. But there is also a growing understanding that
sports programs merit support because they are powerful vehicles for achieving broader
goals, particularly in advancing development and peace agendas.
The development community has typically marginalized sport, viewing it as a relatively
low priority among a host of needs and goals. Recently, though, an international
movement has taken root that recognizes that sport does not have to compete with other
development priorities but can instead be a powerful means for addressing them. The
United Nations, the Inter-American Development Bank, governments, the International
Olympic and Paralympic Committees, non-governmental organizations, and corporate
entities have banded together to think strategically about sport for development and
peace. At the field level, dozens of programs have been harnessing the power of sport for
physical education, humanitarian response, reconciliation and peace building,
rehabilitation and integration of persons with disabilities, advocacy and social/policy
change, awareness raising and education, and economic development.
Much work must still be done to fully link the international movement to practitioners in
the field and to bring the sport and development sectors together. Carried out wisely,
however, sports programming has the potential to play an important role in fostering
development and peace.
The Transformational Power of Sport
Both formal studies and a wealth of anecdotal evidence have demonstrated that
participation in sport has countless benefits for individuals. Among the most obvious
positive outcomes are improvements in physical health, such as weight control, strength
building, increased flexibility, enhanced coordination and motor skills, improved
cardiovascular health, and pain reduction. People who are physically active often tend to
develop healthier lifestyles and better eating habits.
A second, but no less important, beneficial aspect of sport is the impact that it has on
psychological and emotional healing and well-being. Sport provides a positive outlet fo
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