Children swim in a local recreation centre, El Salvador.
Sport has been increasingly recognized and used as a low-cost and high-impact tool in humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts.
Photo:©UNICEF/UN0156174/Martinez

Importantly, sport transcends boundaries and promotes tolerance, perseverance, and respect within and between cultures … to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies."


- President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, Remarks at the commemoration of World Football Day, 22 May 2024

2025 Theme: Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is annually celebrated on 6 April, to recognize the power of sport in fostering positive change, bridging barriers, and transcending boundaries.

In the lead up to the Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025, IDSDP 2025 will focus on the theme of ‘Social Inclusion’, with a focus on the most marginalized groups as well as on age, gender, and race. This year’s theme aims to challenge stereotypes, promote equal opportunities, and enable inclusive sport for all, regardless of age, gender, or race. It highlights the role of sport as a unifying force that fosters inclusion and more equitable societies, while being a powerful platform for dialogue to tackle prejudices and inspire positive change across the world.

In commemoration of International Day, an event will be hosted at UN Headquarters in New York, in collaboration between the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco, Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Department of Global Communications and UN Women. The event will be an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on the intersecting issues of sport, gender equality, healthy aging, and racial equality. Through inspiring conversations, IDSDP strives to raise awareness, celebrate success stories, strengthen partnerships, and advocate for solutions to critical challenges. IDSDP 2025 will serve as a platform to explore solutions on how sport can serve as a tool towards greater social inclusion and progress. 

 

Background

Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace.

To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the UN of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.

In its Resolution (A/RES/67/296) establishing the Day, the General Assembly

invites States, the United Nations system and, in particular, the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant international organizations, and international, regional and national sport organisations, civil society including, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate, observe and raise awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace."

The power of sport values

a climber amidst beautiful mountains

Sports can play a key role in bringing people together and championing climate action. Read more about youth in action here.

Related observances

Sport and Sustainable Development

Sport has proven to be a cost-effective and flexible tool in promoting peace and development objectives. In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sport’s role for social progress is further acknowledged: "Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives."

 

Football for the Goals

Football for the Goals  (FFTG) is a United Nations membership-based initiative that provides a platform for the global football community to engage with and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is an opportunity to build on football’s powerful and influential reach and for football organizations to work together to become agents of change by aligning messaging, strategies and operations with the aspirations of the SDGs.

This initiative inspires and guides the world of football - from grassroots clubs and NGOs to professional leagues and international confederations -  to build on existing sustainability approaches and to implement SDG-related strategies that lead to behavioural change. Members also use their visibility and outreach power to raise the profile of the SDGs through amplification and advocacy.

 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.