News

7 April 2022

Global sports community celebrated International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The global sports community yesterday marked the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2022 by showcasing its commitment to promoting sustainable development, peace, solidarity and respect for all.

Celebrated annually, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace presents an opportunity to recognise the role that sport and physical activity plays in communities and people’s lives across the world. This year, the UN used the occasion to recognise sport’s broad contribution to securing a sustainable and peaceful future for all.

Across the world, the sports community raised their #WhiteCards in calls for peace and many GAISF Members encouraged athletes and fans alike to join the call for sustainable development and peace, including but not limited to: the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF), the International Skating Union (ISU), the International Judo Federation (IJF), Badminton World Federation (BWF), World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and the International Teqball Federation (FITEQ).

Several GAISF Members also highlighted the actions it has taken to ensure sustainability is at the forefront of its work. For example, FIFA, the first IF to join the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, has taken steps to reduce, and then offset, greenhouse gas emissions at its flagship events. Additionally, in November 2021, FIFA committed during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) to net-zero emissions by 2040 and launched the FIFA Climate Strategy to outline initiatives to achieve this goal.

Meanwhile, the International Floorball Federation (IFF), also a UN Sports for Climate Action Framework signatory, highlighted the power of sport to change the world and showcased its sustainability goals. These include the reduction of the World Floorball Championship (WFC) 2022 carbon footprint by at least 50 per cent,

The IFF will also organise a Green Goal Day during the WFC to educate the floorball community on sustainability and present the Green Goal Award to the floorball club that has submitted an exciting project to reduce its own CO2 emissions.

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), marked IDSDP2022 by joining the #WhiteCard campaign and featuring the creation of its Humanitarian Task Force to help mobilise and co-ordinate humanitarian responses from its community.

Other IFs, such as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) highlighted the efforts of the international hockey community to inspire peace and kindness, while the International Swimming Federation (FINA) underlined how sport is a unifying force by asking aquatics athletes what sport means to them.