IOC President Lauds Inclusion Of Sport In UN Pact For Future

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has thanked world leaders wholeheartedly for including sport in the Pact for the Future.

The landmark document was adopted by the 193 UN Member States on Sunday.

“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the adoption of the Pact for the Future. In particular, I would like to thank you for recognising the role of sport as an important enabler – and indeed, accelerator – to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“The recent Olympic Games Paris 2024 illustrate in an excellent way how the IOC is contributing to the SDGs through sport,” said the IOC President during the plenary session.

“We are ready to continue and strengthen this contribution of sport in the framework of the Pact for the Future – because this Pact perfectly reflects our Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together,” President Bach continued.

Sport is mentioned multiple times in the Pact for the Future, where, in Action 11 of the 56 Actions, the UN Member States declare: “We will protect and promote culture and sport as integral components of sustainable development.”

They continue: “We recognise that culture as well as sport offer individuals and communities a strong sense of identity and fosters social cohesion. We also recognise that sport can contribute to individuals’ and communities’ health and wellbeing. Culture as well as sport therefore are important enablers of sustainable development.”