Advancing Peace and Development through Public-Private Partnerships around Sports
Author: Kelly Cannon
At the United Nations (UN), SAP Next-Gen reinforced its strong commitment to using sports as a tool for development and peace. Sports can play a critical role in accelerating progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those involving education, health, gender equality, and public-private partnerships.
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
In 1978, UNESCO officially recognized the right to play sports or engage in physical education as a “fundamental right for all.” However, the use of sports as a vehicle to advance human rights and promote social and economic development remains largely underutilized. Therefore, on August 23, 2013, the UN declared April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP).
Calling for a Global Movement at the United Nations
On April 3, the UN held an event in honor of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. It sought to increase awareness around the power of sports and motivate influential leaders to advance the SDGs through physical activity. Ann Rosenberg, senior vice president and global head of SAP Next-Gen, spoke on the panel for the event. Amina J. Mohammed (Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations) started off the afternoon, and Tabitha Lipkin, (Sports Anchor for Fox 5 San Diego) moderated the panel. Rosenberg spoke alongside the voices of leaders from sports organizations, academia, purpose driven partners, governments, and citizens. Speakers included Laura Gentile (Senior Vice President Marketing, ESPN), Masai Ujiri (President, Toronto Raptors), Agnès Marcaillou (Director, UN Mine Action Service), Laurent Dupont (Managing Director, Peace and Sport), H.E. Hessa bint Khalifa Al-Thani (Special Envoy of the League of Arab States on Humanitarian Affairs), Koji Murofushi (Sports Director, The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games), the International Olympic Committee, Juan Pablo Salazar (Board Member, International Paralympic Committee), and H.E. Mr. Hassan Al-Thawadi (Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup).
The Power of Public-Private Partnerships
During the event, Rosenberg highlighted SAP’s partnerships with the She’s Mercedes initiative and Formula E to address issues around gender equality and sports. The #WhiteCard program also presents a unique opportunity to encourage a global conversation around this topic. Act as a referee, hold up a #WhiteCard and share it on social media to join the movement. Further, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will move sports forward by focusing on three fundamental concepts: achieving your personal best, unity in diversity, and connecting to tomorrow.
SAP Next-Gen strongly supports the use of sports to accelerate the SDGs, as demonstrated by its partnership with the Global Goals World Cup (GGWCup). “We have been teaming up with the GGWCup to encourage universities, youth, and citizens to play for the Global Goals,” said Rosenberg. “Over the past year, we have supported GGWCup with tournaments and events in New York, Johannesburg, Davos, SXSW, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Buenos Aires. SAP is committed to using sports to increase impact and progress towards the Global Goals.”
SAP Next-Gen will continue to harness the power of strategic public-private partnerships to scale impact for the SDGs through sports. SAP Next-Gen and the GGWCup will host another tournament for the Global Goals in Copenhagen during the Europe Cup in May.
