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• Sports Ministers Agree to Plans to Develop Sport to Transform Lives

Sports Ministers Agree to Plans to Develop Sport to Transform Lives

15 March 2006

Commonwealth Sports Ministers have agreed to put their political weight behind plans to highlight sport's capacity to transform the lives of millions of people around the Commonwealth.

The third Commonwealth Sports Ministers' Meeting, held in Melbourne, Australia, on 14 March 2006, agreed to promote the benefits of sport by encouraging sport and health ministries to work together; raise standards in education, develop leadership and community participation, and promote healthy living through sports programmes.

Ministers also endorsed the work of the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS) set up to promote the value of sport as a tool for social and economic development within its 53 member countries and 18 territories.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon welcomed the commitment of member governments. "With political backing and the financial and human resources to make things happen we can begin to see changes in richer and poorer countries alike," he said in Melbourne after the ministerial meeting.

"CABOS has given some very powerful examples for us to follow," the Secretary-General added. "Just look at the way football has been used in the 'Kick Out AIDS' programme in nine countries in Africa; or the way that government and society are using sport to combat obesity in Fiji Islands and Tonga. Or see the way that women are being given a voice through the first National Women's Games in Malaysia; or desperately deprived street kids in Mumbai are getting two hours' of weekly sports coaching and games through the Magic Bus charity. All Commonwealth countries, rich and poor, can learn from these and apply them."

Sue Campbell, Chair of CABOS, said: "This is an exciting time for the role of sport. Sport can inspire, motivate and empower people, and sports initiatives really can change lives, build teams and develop whole communities."

The full text of the communiqué issued in Melbourne after the ministerial meeting follows:

ThirdCommonwealthSports Ministers' Meeting Communiqué 14 March 2006

The third Commonwealth Sports Ministers' Meeting discussed issues of mutual importance and strategically addressed the application of sports programmes in assisting the health, social and economic development of the 53 countries and 18 territories of the Commonwealth.

Ministers:

1.    Noted the progress being made by Commonwealth member countries, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the
World Anti-Doping Agency on the implementation of the Athens Action Plan, addressing the key areas of:

       -    Women in sport

       -    Capacity for countries to host major events, and

       -    Anti-doping;

 

2.   Noted the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport was adopted by member states on 19 October 2005 and agreed to take steps to ratify the Convention as soon as possible, with all aiming to do so by the end of 2006;

3.   Recognised the importance of major sporting events and that the success of such events is an integral part of sports development at all levels, and endorsed the proposals set out in the Commonwealth Secretariat and Athens Action Plan update reporton major events;

4.   Endorsed the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS) report of January 2006, and the role of CABOS in further developing and advocating the evidence base for sport;

5.    Agreed to promote the benefits of sport and physical activity, by encouraging:

-    Sport and health ministries to work together to implement the WHO strategy

-    Physical activity and health education to be part of school life

-    The use of sport to teach life skills and healthy behaviour;

 

6.    Agreed to promote education through physical education and sport, by:

-    Encouraging national sports policies to include the recognition and importance of physical education and sport

-   Working with education ministries to:

 

i.          Recognise and value the contribution of physical education and sport to academic goals and citizenship

ii.         Deliver high quality physical education and sport as part of the curriculum

-    Engage students and parents directly

-    Use sporting role models in schools;

 

7.   Agreed to use sport to develop leadership and participation in the community by encouraging:

-    Relevant education and training to build capacity in communities

-   The development of a coordinating mechanism to enable partners to work together

-    The development of programmes suitable to the needs of participants and communities;

 

8.    Agreed to build inclusive communities through sport by:

-    Developing low cost high impact programmes that address diverse local needs

-    Engaging local communities and developing volunteers

-    Developing a local support network

-    Recruiting sports stars as role models; 

9.   Agreed that these objectives will be achieved by enhancing communication and coordination across government departments and key organisations, and ensuring that each programme meets its objectives;

10.   Noted progress on a five-year longitudinal study being conducted by the Commonwealth Institute that is examining 1,000 primary school children in respect to exercise, as well as physical, social and psychological health;

11.   Noted the Malaysian Minister for Sport, Datuk Azalina Dato Othman Said, intends to host a sports meeting in 2006;

12.    Agreed to meet again in Beijing prior to the 2008 Olympic Games.

 

 

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