Peace and development
through sport

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  • Olympic House IOC News

    IOC welcomes UN resolution calling on Member States and international organisations to redouble their support to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine

  • IOC News

    UN General Assembly recognises that “the unifying and conciliative nature” of major international sports events “should be respected”

  • IOC News

    IOC emphasises power of sport in combatting youth violence and crime at special UNODC forum

  • President Bach receives Peace and Friendship Award from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) IOC President

    President Bach receives Peace and Friendship Award from the International Hockey Federation

  • IOC President Thomas Bach IOC President

    “There is no peace without solidarity”

  • IOC News

    International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2022: how sport can assist and protect forcibly displaced people

  • Development through sport

    International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2022: how sport can build bridges

  • IOC President Thomas Bach and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres Beijing 2022

    UN Secretary-General underscores UN commitment to IOC and its mission

  • IOC President Thomas Bach Beijing 2022

    Beijing 2022 athletes invited to sign Olympic Truce Mural

  • UN Secretary-General António Guterres Beijing 2022

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for the Olympic Truce to be observed

  • Flags in Beijing IOC News

    IOC welcomes solemn appeal by United Nations to observe Olympic Truce during Beijing 2022

  • IOC President Thomas Bach Beijing 2022

    UN General Assembly adopts Olympic Truce for Beijing 2022, highlighting the contribution of sport to the promotion of peace and solidarity

"The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity."

Fundamental Principles of Olympism, Olympic Charter.

The IOC President, Thomas Bach, regularly emphasizes that "sport is not just physical activity; it promotes health and helps prevent, or even cure, the diseases of modern civilization. It also is an educational tool which fosters cognitive development; teaches social behaviour; and helps to integrate communities".  

The IOC cooperates with partners, including numerous United Nations agencies, as well as international governmental and nongovernmental institutions, on projects which use sport as a tool for development and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

National Olympic Committees also support these activities locally through their sports expertise and networks. Several International Federations have also developed initiatives in this field.

Sport for hope

The Sport for Hope Programme is a joint initiative between the IOC, its Olympic Movement stakeholders and the local governments.

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Support to Youth Refugees
IOC Refugee Foundation

Over the last 20 years, the International Olympic Committee has offered humanitarian sports assistance to refugees in numerous countries around the world. with the belief that every child and human being has a fundamental right of access to sport and playing. Thanks to its health and psychological benefits, sport plays a healing role for refugees and brings hope and joy in troubled times.

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Public Affairs and Social Development through sport Commission
The Commission for Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport advises the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board and the IOC President on strategies to promote the role of sport and Olympism in society and to position the IOC as a thought leader and a strong actor on the international stage around sport for development and peace in and beyond the Games.
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International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
IDSDP
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development and to foster peace and understanding.
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