UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution Presented by Qatar, Monaco on Sports Role in Sustainable Development

New York, November 15 (QNA) - The United Nations General Assembly, during its 79th session, adopted a resolution by consensus recognizing sport as an enabler of sustainable development. The resolution was introduced by the State of Qatar and the Principality of Monaco as co-chairs of the Group of friends of sport for sustainable development.
Through this resolution, the General Assembly emphasized the importance of implementing the United Nations' 2018 Action Plan on leveraging sport for development and peace. Member States were invited to strengthen their efforts, and the UN system was urged to mobilize additional resources and enhance the capacities of the UN Secretariat to support the implementation of this plan in collaboration with Member States and other stakeholders.
The resolution also welcomed the upcoming Summit of the Future, scheduled to be held on Sep. 22-23, 2024, at the UN Headquarters in New York. It took note of resolution 79/1 titled Our Common Agenda and its annexes, which, among other points, recognize the protection and promotion of culture and sport as integral components of sustainable development.
Before the resolution's adoption, Second Secretary at Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Talal Abdulaziz Al Naama delivered a statement during the discussion under agenda item (12) on the UN Secretary-General's report on leveraging the power of sport to achieve sustainable development and peace. In his statement, he presented the draft resolution and extended Qatar’s gratitude to all delegations that participated in informal consultations, showing flexibility and interest in advancing the agenda of sport and its link to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. He affirmed Qatar’s commitment to continuing its role in promoting international cooperation on sports and contributing to achieving sustainable development and peace.
Al Naama highlighted Qatar’s efforts in enhancing its sports infrastructure to the highest standards and its success in hosting major sporting events. He noted that in 2022, Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Arab and Middle Eastern regions. Furthermore, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with Qatar, launched a campaign to leverage the power of football to promote health and well-being for all.
He also mentioned Qatar’s annual National Sports Day, an official occasion involving state institutions, officials, and all members of society, aimed at raising community awareness about the importance of sports. This initiative aligns with Qatar's National Vision 2030, which identifies human development as one of its key pillars.
It is worth noting that the draft resolution is adopted every two years by the General Assembly. In its 77th session, the General Assembly previously adopted resolution 77/27. (QNA)