Sport for Development and Peace
Canada is one of a number of countries, along with the United Nations, leading a growing international "sport for development and peace" (SDP) movement.
Over the last decade, Canadian Heritage and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) have been involved in several sports for development initiatives. In 2005-2006, Canada provided approximately $2.6 million toward such activities.
Canadian Heritage, through a collaborative approach with its governmental and non-governmental partners, is working to advance awareness of the value and the use of sport as a tool for international development, including the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals – a set of eight development objectives to halve extreme poverty internationally by 2015.
In so doing, Canadian Heritage has targeted its support toward projects that provide social benefits to, and encourage the participation of underrepresented groups in sport: women, children, youth, and persons with a disability; particularly in the Commonwealth and la Francophonie.
Launch of the Final report of the Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group
"Harnessing the Power of Sport for Development and Peace: Recommendations to Governments"
August 7, 2008
The Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group (SDP IWG) is a four-year policy initiative engaging national governments, United Nations (UN) agencies, and civil society in the development of practical recommendations for the integration of Sport for Development and Peace into domestic and international development policies and programs. The work of the SDP IWG has culminated in the presentation of a comprehensive set of policy recommendations for national governments in conjunction with the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
http://iwg.sportanddev.org/en/index.htm