Last Updated on 5 April 2024 IST: World Sports Day 2024 | The United Nations (UN) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is observed every year on April 6, which comprehends the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide. The theme in 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies: The world is facing imminent danger of war along with the high inflation. There is an urgent need to work as a team to make determined efforts to create a secure, peaceful, and sustainable future for all. Let the readers focus on sports of human life too and learn Sat-Bhakti to attain Salvation.

World Sports Day 2024: Highlights 

• World Sports Day is observed on April 6 each year since 2013
• The world celebrates International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 6 April, to mark the opening of the Olympics in Athens 1896
• The UN and the IOC have a unique commitment to use sport as a tool for social change
• The theme of World Sports Day 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies.”

About World Sports Day

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2024 is an opportunity to recognize the role that sport plays in building resilience in communities, in individuals’ lives, and in the recovery from the pandemic through social media and online activity in the lead up to and on the day. The sports have potential to go beyond the sporting and to take a leadership role in climate neutral journey, and raise awareness among billions of sports watchers, commentators, reporters, players, managers at various levels. Sports can make the society understand the urgent need to take care of climate issues and reverse its impacts.

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In the era of COVID-19 pandemic the world faces generational challenges of poverty and hunger, climate change and health. There is an urgent need to work as a team to make determined efforts to create a secure, peaceful, and sustainable future for all.

Significance of World Sports Day

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace facilitates healthy lifestyles and promotes the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) emphasis on giving as many people as possible access to sport. It is the day when some of the world’s dominating sportspeople work together with communities to bring sporting openings to enrich lives, particularly children.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is not a public holiday but a global observance day.  The adoption of this International Day signifies the importance of recognition that sports can help substantially in achieving the goals to advance human rights, and social and economic development.

“Sport has the power to align our passion, energy and enthusiasm around a collective cause. And that is precisely when hope can be nurtured and trust can be regained. It is in our collective interest to harness the tremendous power of sport to help build a better and more sustainable future for all.”

History and Background of World Sports Day

The UN and the IOC have a unique commitment to use sport as a tool for social change and have worked concurrently on many projects over the years. Both institutions have used sporting occurrences such as the Olympic Games, to link cultural understanding and improve health, education, social and economic development.

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The United Nations recognizes that sports have vast reach, unmatchable admiration and positive spirit, and therefore sport has potential to contribute to achieving the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace.

Therefore to use this potential the UN General Assembly declared 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP). It marks the beginning of the maiden modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2013 adopted the Day, and has been celebrated each year since 2014.

The General Assembly through its Resolution (A/RES/67/296) established the Day:

“invites States, the United Nations system and, in particular, the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant international organizations, and international, regional and national sport organisations, civil society including, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate, observe and raise awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.”

World Sports Day 2024 Theme

The global theme for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2024 is “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies“, this overarching theme enables IDSDP activities to largely center on the contribution and influence of sport to peace and sustainable development.

 The theme provides an opportunity to commemorate the day to highlight the utility of sport as a significant arm to progress human rights and sustainable development. UN Headquarters in New York with member countries and many organizations will propagate the awareness about the role of sport in resolving the issues such as climate crisis with probable actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

World Sports Day 2024 Objectives

• Reaffirm the position of sport in the comeback from the epidemic and beyond
• Foster solidarity, equity, community, and team spirit in response to the epidemic 
• Encourage healthy patterns through physical activity and building emotional well being and encourage hope through sporting analogies

“In our fragile world, where division, conflict and mistrust are on the rise, we show the world: yes, it is possible to be fierce rivals, while at the same time living peacefully and respectfully together. Give peace a chance.” IOC President Bach.

World Sports Day 2024 Quotes

• A pious soul should abide by the Constitution of God Kabir, just like a player abides by the rules of the game while playing it.
• “Champions keep playing until they get it right.”- Billie Jean King
• “The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you.”- Jackie Joyner-Kersee 
• “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
• “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan
• “Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.”- Doug Williams

How to Play the Sports of Human Life?

Human life is very precious. Salvation can be attained in a human body only. Play the sports of human life in a way that apart from achieving worldly pleasures, Salvation should be definitely attained.

This is possible by taking refuge at an enlightened Saint. In the current period, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is the only Complete Guru and a Real Saint. To know in-depth information, download Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj App.

FAQ Regarding World Sports Day