International Day of Sport for Development and its Implications for India
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is celebrated annually on the 6th of April. It presents an opportunity to acknowledge the positive role of sport and physical activity in communities and people’s lives globally. Aimed at strengthening social ties, promoting sustainable development and peace, and fostering solidarity and respect, the day promotes sporting culture throughout the world.
Sport’s potential to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is enormous, from empowering marginalized groups like women and girls, young people, and persons with disabilities to promoting health, education, and sustainability. Following similar lines, the theme for the 2023 IDSDP is “Scoring for People and the Planet,” allowing IDSDP activities to broadly focus on the impact and influence of sport on sustainable development and peace.
The United Nations recognizes the power and universality of sport, utilizing it to unite individuals and groups, support sport for development efforts, participate in global to grassroots-level events, and develop its sports-related campaigns and initiatives. It has laid down a series of plans to promote sports throughout the world. The Olympic committee also looks forward to making sure all the countries participate in some or other sports.
India, which is a country with a huge landmass and diverse population, plays diverse sports. However, cricket is the most prominent, contributing 85 percent of the sponsorship spends, despite the fact that emerging sports like football, kabaddi, and marathon are making their presence felt. These sports have the ability to unite people as they don’t have any religion or caste.
Based on the recent performance of Indian athletes at the 2021 Olympics, it seems that the future of sports in India is very promising. With a surge of interest in sports other than cricket, especially in the youth, there is potential for India to excel in a wide range of sports in the coming years.
The medals won by Indian players at the Olympics have garnered significant attention and respect for the country, which has encouraged more young people to take up sports. Furthermore, the renewed interest in hockey, which was once India’s most famous sport, is also a positive sign for the future of sports in India.
At a time when the world is facing crises of war, it is necessary to spread the word of peace and love. Nothing else can be more appropriate than sports to propagate such novel values. India, along with the UN, should ensure that we use sports to strengthen our diplomatic ties and spread anti-war sentiments throughout the world.
Several non-profit organizations are also working towards the betterment of sports in India. Magic Bus India Foundation uses sports as a medium to empower underprivileged children and youth in India. Khelshala provides sports training to underprivileged children in Delhi. GoSports Foundation supports emerging athletes in India through scholarships, mentorship, and training programs. Olympic Gold Quest supports Indian athletes in their quest for Olympic gold medals by providing financial and technical assistance. Pro Sport Development works towards promoting sports as a tool for development and social change in India. These organizations aim to leverage the potential of sports for social development in India by providing access to sports facilities, training coaches, and creating awareness about the benefits of sports. Their initiatives can contribute to building social capital, fostering unity and diversity, promoting gender equality, and contributing to sustainable development.
Finally, sports can open up floodgates of diplomatic ties between countries as well as between countries and corporates. The significance of the International Day of Sport should be embraced throughout the world and looked at as an opportunity for ensuring development in sports as well as diplomatic ties.
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