International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace celebrates sports and their contributions to education, human development, and a healthy lifestyle. This day aims to raise awareness about the positive influences of sports on the advancement of human rights. Additionally, it encourages social inclusion, fair play, and team spirit.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was established in 2013 by the United Nations. It is celebrated annually on April 6th, a day that was originally used to celebrate physical activity in the world as it coincides with the first day of the first Olympic Games in 1896.

Facts about this day

• The theme for International Day of Sport for Development and Peace in 2025 was Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion, in 2024 it was Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies. in 2023 it was Scoring for People and the Planet.
• It is estimated that there are more than 8,000 sports played around the world. Only about 440 are recognized internationally however.
• The first Olympic Games were held in April of 1896 in Athens, Greece. At this point, only 9 sports were part of the games and only 14 countries competed. Men were the only ones allowed to compete as well.
• The most popular sport in the world is Football (known as Soccer in North America). According to FIFA, there are an estimated 275 million football players in the world.
• During World War I, a Christmas truce was declared between enemies. British and German soldiers played football in what was earlier that day a battlefield. It was a temporary peace that was met with impromptu playing of sport.
• Sport has the power to change the world -Nelson Mandela

In the News and Trending in the US for International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Top things to do in the US for this observance

• Help organize and take part in a sporting event for underprivileged kids such as KidSport or Right to Play International. Any amount of money donated goes toward helping underprivileged kids get involved in sports and keep them happy and healthy.
• Take a picture of you playing a sport and post it on social media with the caption Sport, Peace, and Development. Use the hashtag #iplay, #InternationalDayofSportforDevelopmentandPeace or #IDSDP on social media to spread awareness.
• Watch a movie that shows the value of sport in development and peace such as Cool Runnings (1993),Invictus (2009), Unbroken (2014), and McFarland, USA (2015),
• Assess your current physical health and get active. Most heart diseases, diabetes and cancer cases are largely due to inactivity. Apps such as My Fitness Pal, Apple’s step counter, and Garmin Connect can all help you monitor your fitness goals.
• Organize a friendly match between two groups of friends or families. Pick a sport of your choice and get everyone involved in friendly competition.