SDGs Youth World Cup 2018
Published on 19 June 2018 at 12:07 - Modified the 25 July 2023 at 03:03
On January 1st, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit, officially came into force. Over the next fifteen years, all countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
In the paragraph 37 of the Political Declaration contained in resolution 70/1, the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives recognized that “Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development”. Sport contributes to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect (SDGs 16 and 17), the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities (SDGs 5 and 11), as well as to health (SDG 3), education and social inclusion objectives (SDG 4) and the reduction of inequalities (SDG 10).
Sport is recognized as an essential educational tool and a means to promote health and healthy lifestyles. Moreover, playing together towards a common goal builds character, friendship and important life skills. Through sport, children develop confidence and altruism, as well as teamwork, which encourages cooperation and mutual respect. The sport values can also keep young people away from crime and drug use. Additionally, sport can enhance gender equality, address constricting gender norms, and provide inclusive safe spaces. In the United States, coed sport, in particular soccer, gives a concrete example of how to overcome gender issues.
With this in mind, the “SDGs Youth World Cup 2018” intends to be an effective example of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The aim is to raise awareness of sport’s contribution to the SDGs as well as to highlight and spread good practices, using the opportunity of the 2018 FIFA World Cup taking place in Russia.
The project consists in 3 phases:
The first one – Educational – will provide an occasion for children from different boroughs in New York to learn about the SDGs and start a reflection on how to achieve them through sport.
The second one – Action – will gather 80 boys and girls in a soccer tournament, as a great opportunity to demonstrate how sport can facilitate the achievement of the SDGs. The event will be held on Randall’s Island, New York, on June 23rd, 2018. Each of the 8 coed teams will represent one of the partnering Member States, wearing its official jersey.
The third one – Review and Assessment – will draw lessons learned and develop a toolkit dedicated to the use of sport to promote and enable the SDGs.
This project has been developed by the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Belgium, France, Germany, Morocco, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and Senegal to the United Nations, and with the support of SDG-Fund, UNICEF, UN Women, NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, and New York City FC.