The Secretary-General's Report of the 79th Session of the General Assembly was published 1st October 2024. The report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/27, examines the contribution of sport to achieving peace and the Sustainable Development Goals. It describes progress towards implementation between 2022 and 2024 of the United Nations Action Plan on Sport for Development and Peace.
Drawing on inputs from leading global experts, Member States, the United Nations system and other stakeholders, the report focusses on progress in five priority areas of impact:
(i) social inclusion through sport,
(ii) physical activity, physical education, and community-based participation in sport,
(iii) gender equality in and through sport,
(iv) peacebuilding and crime prevention, and
(v) sustainable communities and climate action. Each section reviews progress over the past two years, highlighting gaps in implementation that prevent sport from being fully utilized as a tool for development and peace.
A schematic overview of the global sport ecosystem is used to deepen understanding of the multiple stakeholders engaged in sport and to highlight potential entry points and opportunities for strengthening implementation of the UN Action Plan amidst current global challenges. Lastly, the report provides strategic recommendations directed at the UN system, Member States and the global sport ecosystem to support implementation of the UN Action Plan.