In August 2013, the UN General Assembly decided to proclaim 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) and in 2018, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed an initiative with Qatar Charity and the International Center for Sports Security (ICSS) to promote peace and development through sport for the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Darfur, entitled “Sport for Development and Peace”.
On 6 April 2021, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the UK hosted a webinar on ‘Sport for Development and Peace’ to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
The webinar covered the impact of sports on international development and peace, with speakers highlighting that sports can act as an enabler for peacebuilding and development efforts by reaching marginalised communities and enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Participants praised the State of Qatar’s efforts in this area, emphasising that since the awarding of the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has made important efforts to utilise sports as a catalyst for peace and development.
The event was attended by, Professor Simon Chadwick, Director of the Centre for Eurasian Sport Industry and Professor of Eurasian Sport Industry at EM Lyon Business School. Ms Reem Al-Harami, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in London. Mr Marco Teixeira, Global Programme Coordinator, Implementation of the Doha Declaration, UNODC. Mr Massimiliano Montanari, CEO, International Centre for Sport Security. Professor Danyel Reiche, Visiting Associate Professor, Georgetown University Doha. Mr Ali Abdullah, Deputy Director-General for Planning, Qatar Fund For Development. Ms Rwodah Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Qatar Fund For Development.
Professor Chadwick welcomed the participants and thanked those that are working on projects that bring sports and development together. He endorsed the idea that sports should be a catalyst for dialogue and understanding different worldviews, adding that these attributes were one of the “most important things sports have given to me”.
Professor Chadwick also highlighted that Qatar works with international partners to economically empower refugees and marginalised individuals and conducts reforms to its labour market.
Ms Reem Al-Harami, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in London, began her remarks by highlighting that Qatar has a passion for sport and believes that “sport can strengthen” societies and links between nations and communities. She emphasised the importance of sport in fostering a sense of community, especially in those affected by violence and conflict as well as in response to the pandemic.
“International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is an opportunity to highlight how sports can strengthen societal ties within and between societies and promote sustainable development and peace and promote, as well as, solidarity and respect between nations and individuals. “
Ms Al-Harami continued to express the importance of sports for Qatar, “we in Qatar know how sport can cross boundaries defy stereotypes, improve our physical and emotional health and inspire hope across nations.
She further highlighted the role Qatar has played, in providing funding, support and resources at grassroots levels, “through global initiatives such as sports of development and peace in Darfur Qatar seeks to promote social integration and peacebuilding with long term goal of conflict resolution.
On the significance of Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup not only for the region but for the long-term sport and development legacy it will leave behind, Ms Al-Harami noted Qatar’s commitment to ensuring that the tournament leaves a sustainable impact.
“We are firmly dedicated to ensuring that the tournament leaves a positive, human, economic, social and environmental legacy for our country.”
Mr Marco Teixeira, Global Programme Coordinator, Implementation of the Doha Declaration, UNODC, outlined the UN’s work using sport as a “vehicle to reach young people” and target the root causes of violence and crime and protect young people through the programme ‘Line up Live Up’.
‘Line up Live Up’ is a UN programme that delivers sport-based life skills training, technical support for policy and programme development, enhanced access to sport in marginalised communities and raises awareness of sport as a tool for prevention.
Teixeira described how the UNODC has a ‘five-zone’ approach to prevent violent extremism, which includes sport.
Massimiliano Montanari, CEO of, International Centre for Sport Security, stated that the discussion around sports, peace and development usually focus on the activities on the ground, which are the end-product of a long chain of activities and initiatives that make them eventually happen.
He welcomed that, compared to past decades, the international community now has a common approach towards sports and peace, creating a synergy between communities and leading to better outcomes in sports and development-related projects.
Mr Montanari praised the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) and Qatar Charity-led Darfur Project as a successful initiative that was a part of broader foreign policy objectives by Qatar to promote peace in the region. Montanari also praised Qatar’s wider contributions to promote sports and development, adding that whenever his institution reaches out to Qatari institutions for partnership offers, “nobody says no”.
Danyel Reiche, Visiting Associate Professor, Georgetown University Doha, highlighted and commended the work done by Generation Amazing around the 2022 World Cup, reaching marginalised communities such as refugees in the developing world and making a positive impact on their communities via promoting sports and development. He added that the challenge is to maintain these activities following the tournament and that Qatar will have done a “phenomenal job” if it can maintain its proactive approach in this area.
He touched upon the critical reporting by the international media about the situation of migrant workers in Qatar, adding that “some of these reports have not been fair and some have not been accurate”. Reiche noted that Qatar has addressed these issues, implemented a minimum wage and did many other improvements for migrant workers.
Mr Ali Abdullah, Deputy Director-General for Planning, Qatar Fund For Development, stated that sports have the power to foster dialogue, mutual understanding, social inclusion and peace. He added that sports bring huge value to development and peace processes.
Mr Abdullah added that sports transcend boundaries and connect people from different backgrounds. He mentioned that in 2018, QFFD signed an agreement with its strategic partners to help internally displaced people in Darfur to provide a safe, supportive environment for internally displaced people and rebuild trust.
Mr Abdullah further stated that Qatar is not only the host of the 2022 World Cup, it also has been advocating for the contribution of sports towards peace and development at different levels.
Ms Rwodah Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Qatar Fund For Development, discussed the importance of “inter-linkages” between development and sport in achieving sustainable development goals, focusing on QFFD’s work in Darfur in greater depth.
She highlighted the ‘Sports Festival organised by QFFD in Darfur for children, who were joined by celebrity athletes. She argued that it gave the children a “sense of solidarity” and it was an “opportunity to provide a safe environment” that allows them to build their capacity and boost physical and mental wellbeing. She argued that sport is “unique” in its ability to develop key life skills and develop ties between people.
She also discussed how sport can contribute to economic empowerment, detailing how QFFD helps to create sustainable and impactful jobs, such as those which provide employment but also contribute to preventing climate change.
In her closing remarks, Ms Al-Harami spoke of the impact of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the opportunities it provides, “I think the World Cup 2022 that will be hosted in Doha is a great opportunity for all of us to learn a lot about how football and how sports can have a positive impact on people’s lives. How such a huge event can have a long-lasting and sustainable change towards many societies and I am very grateful that Qatar has been doing a lot of projects and initiatives to help communities around the world when it comes to sport, development and peace.”
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