1st International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 6 April as the International Day of Sports and Physical Activity, to celebrate the contribution of sports and physical activity to education, human development, healthy lifestyles and a peaceful world. The 1st International Day of Sport for Development and Peace will be celebrated on 6 April 2014.

UNESCO’s Executive Board, by 192 EX/Decision 38, had already welcomed and endorsed the recommendation of the Declaration of the United Nations’ third International Forum on Sport for Peace and Development to proclaim an “International Day of Sports and Physical Activity”; and further invited the Director-General to support all efforts leading the United Nations General Assembly to proclaim this Day.

The choice of the date of 6 April can be explained by the fact that, in 2002, at its 55th session, the Assembly of the World Health Organization, in its resolution WHA 55.23, urged Member States to celebrate a “Move for Health Day” each year to promote physical activity as essential for health and well-being. The date 6 April has been used since the year 2003 by some civil society organizations for celebrating a “World Day for Physical Activity”.