"One cannot expect the sports movement to succeed where social and political movements have failed," said Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during an international forum last week.
"However, where sport can contribute, it shall strive to do so" through its partnerships with international organisations, NGOs and governments, he added.
Rogge was speaking on 7-8 May during the first International Forum on Sport, Peace and Development, which brought together the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with UN bodies, NGOs, sports federations and the academic world.
The forum's conclusions note that the power of sport in peace building and development ranges from preventing violence to humanitarian relief and the long-term construction of society. But governments should play a more active role in this process, it stresses.
The forum asked the IOC and the UN to establish a working party to consider the best ways to generate international best practice on the issue and report back by 30 September 2009, in time for the findings to be incorporated into discussions in the next Olympic Congress. The congress, which will 'take the pulse' of the Movement and consider its future challenges, will take place in early October.
During the forum, the Olympic Movement committed itself "to using its influence to build support among political, community and civil society leaders in order to mobilise action around recreational initiatives promoting peace, development and the integration". It also promised to strive to engage schools, community groups, sports federations, government authorities and local clubs with the Olympic family "to maximise opportunities" for sport.
Furthermore, the Movement pledged to advance dialogue between nations and individuals in order to fight prejudice and foster mutual understanding.
Sport has not been a priority of the EU's development policy so far. However, back in June 2006, the Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FIFA to promote football as a factor for development in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
There has not been any tangible follow-up to this initiative yet, as no funding for sport for development was earmarked in the EU's current long-term budget (2007-2013). But the EU executive hopes to secure funding for sport and development projects in the bloc's next such budget after 2013.
