"There is a clear role for the EU on several levels in the area of sport for development and peace," said Lemke, who expects that the bloc's new powers on sport will lead to "a more proactive and coordinated policy" in the field.
Lemke hopes the EU will take a leading role in the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group (SDP IWG), with a view to having "a one-stop policy-sharing platform" to apply many of the good practices that have been developed (EurActiv 23/02/10).
Countries that do not have as robust a regulatory framework for sport "can significantly benefit from the experience of EU member states" on implementing policies as regards gender, children, youth development and disability, he added, hoping for increased cooperation between the UN and the EU.
UN work
Many United Nations agencies are already mobilising the power of sport to help achieve some of their objectives. According to Lemke, they either integrate sport as a component of their field projects or use it as a communication tool.
The UN Refugee Agency, for instance, uses sport as an educational tool for children in their camps, he said, while others may use it as an outreach instrument for health campaigns.
According to Lemke, a 2003 UN report on the potential of sport to contribute towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals prompted increased recognition of the value of sport both within the UN system and among external actors.
More recently, the SDP IWG – which mainly comprises governments – has developed recommendations on how to integrate sport and physical activity into social and development policies and programmes. The group is now starting to implement the recommendations.
Role of major sports events
Asked about the economic role of sport, Lemke noted that the sports industry generates billions of dollars from which countries, cities and communities can benefit directly and indirectly.
"Sport, including events, can act as a catalyst for economic development. It creates employment, opportunities to learn new skills, to renovate infrastructures," he pointed out.
Major international sports events, such as the Olympic Games or the football World Cup, are not only powerful drivers of change that would not be made otherwise, but also represent a unique opportunity for outreach activities, advocacy and fund-raising, Lemke said.
As these events capture the world's attention, they become "a powerful communication platform that can be used to encourage development objectives such as the Millennium Development Goals," he argued.
Hosting the World Cup presents "a fantastic opportunity for positive social change in South Africa and the whole of Africa" and should boost synergies between the different actors in development through football and other sports, Lemke said.
The impact of football in Africa is enormous and "the aspirations and hope generated by the sport among youth is very high", he added, hoping that the World Cup "leaves a true legacy" and that "the transformation lasts, with no turning back".
Private sector
Regarding the role of the private sector in sport for development and peace, Lemke said some UN agencies were already collaborating with private companies to deliver their sports programmes and invited the private sector to "engage further with the UN in this respect".
With its expertise and financial means, the private sector can play an important role in "maximising the transformative potential of sport," he concluded.
