Tenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

To address the increasing global decline in physical activity, the World Health Organization and the United States have created Physical Activity Guidelines. However, it’s estimated that 31.1% of all adults and 80.3% of children globally don’t meet the recommendations (Lancet, 2012). Meanwhile, In 2015, UN member countries re-envisioned poverty alleviation and empowerment of people and the planet in the transition from the Millenium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This focused discussion will cover the intersection of physical activity and sport as a tool for addressing the SDGs with case examples of successful sports programs addressing each of the 17 goals. Furthermore, this discussion will discuss why the SDGs are relevant to the sport communities (with particular focus on athlete health and climate change) as well as action steps that athletes, coaches, teams, and national sports governing bodies can take to advance and implement key tenants of the SDGs, such as inclusion of often left behind populations, sustainability, and promotion of athlete health while still growing sports industries, teams, and new athletes in a cost-effective manner. As a global industry estimated at $480-$620 billion (A.T. Kearney Inc, 2011), sport has the reach, power, audience, and capacity to use its platform for engaging athletes, fans, and the world in sustainable practices which promote health and peace. This session will equip attendees with frameworks and strategies to implement on the individual, community, national and policy levels.