Sport as a Driver of Sustainable Urban Development. UN Strengthens Its Role in a New Declaration
Can sport be a tool of urban policy alongside transport, education or public space design? The latest political declaration adopted by United Nations Member States shows that its role in this area is being increasingly recognised.
During the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, United Nations Member States adopted a declaration recognising sport as one of the contributors to social and economic development and to more inclusive and sustainable cities.
This is an important signal for the entire sports sector. Sport is increasingly being viewed not only through the lens of competition, events or infrastructure. It is also becoming a tool for achieving much broader public policy objectives.
Integrating sport into urban development
The new declaration is linked to the review of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, the UN’s long-term framework for sustainable urban development.
In the adopted document, sport appears in two important contexts. First, as an element supporting youth development, alongside education, skills development, vocational training and access to employment. Second, as a tool for supporting the creation of safe, accessible, green and inclusive public spaces, as well as social and economic development.
This approach broadens the way we think about the role of sport in cities. A sports field, park, cycle path or infrastructure enabling physical activity can be more than just a place for recreation. When properly planned, such spaces can support public health, social inclusion, youth engagement, the local economy and improvements in the quality of public spaces.
More countries are using sport beyond the sports sector
The significance of this shift is also reflected in the Voluntary National Reviews presented during the HLPF. Of the 36 countries reporting on their progress, 19 included sport as a tool supporting areas such as health, education, social inclusion, tourism and sustainable urban development.
Saudi Arabia has integrated sport into the implementation of its Vision 2030 agenda. One example is the Sports Boulevard in Riyadh, a 135-kilometre network of green corridors designed for walking, cycling and other forms of physical activity. The project combines urban infrastructure development with the promotion of healthier lifestyles.
Bahrain uses sport as part of its Strategic Plan for the Sports Sector 2024–2026, which includes investment in community infrastructure, school sport, increasing women’s participation and developing more inclusive opportunities to participate in sport. Major sporting events are also seen as a tool for developing tourism and supporting economic growth.
From sporting events to lasting impact
The example of Senegal, which is preparing for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, is particularly interesting.
In the city of Pikine, sport is being integrated into local planning through cooperation between the International Olympic Committee and UN-Habitat. Sports infrastructure and public spaces are intended not only to support the organisation of events, but also to strengthen social inclusion and the well-being of local communities. Senegal also identifies sports tourism as one of the elements supporting economic growth and employment.
This approach illustrates an important shift in thinking about the legacy of sporting events. Increasingly, the focus is not only on what happens during the competition, but also on what remains in the city and the community after the event is over.
Sport as part of public policy
The International Olympic Committee, which holds UN Observer status, was also actively involved in the consultation process leading to the declaration. The IOC shared, among other things, evidence from Olympic Games legacies and its cooperation with UN-Habitat on the use of sport for sustainable urban development.
The new declaration therefore reflects a broader trend: sport is increasingly being included in discussions on areas that have traditionally not been considered part of sports policy.
Public health, transport, education, spatial planning, social inclusion, tourism and economic development are interconnected. Sport can be one of the tools that brings these areas together.
This is particularly relevant from the perspective of local governments. Investing in sport does not have to mean only building stadiums or financing events. It can also involve designing spaces that encourage everyday physical activity, developing infrastructure accessible to different groups of residents, supporting local clubs and organisations, or using sport to engage young people.
From recognising the role of sport to measuring its impact
Simply including sport in an international declaration does not automatically mean that its potential will be realised. The key challenge will be translating political commitments into concrete solutions at national and local levels.
If sport is to become a genuine tool for sustainable urban development, clear objectives, cross-sector cooperation and impact measurement will be essential. The question will no longer be only how much funding is allocated to sport, but also what impact those investments generate: whether they increase residents’ physical activity, improve access to public spaces, strengthen social inclusion or create new opportunities for previously excluded groups.
The new UN declaration is therefore important primarily because it places sport within the broader context of social and urban development. It shows that its value can be assessed not only by the number of medals, participants or events organised, but also by its impact on residents’ quality of life and the development of local communities.
For sports organisations and public authorities, this also creates a new challenge: as sport is increasingly recognised as a tool for sustainable development, it becomes increasingly important to demonstrate how this potential is being used and what measurable impact it generates.
Source: IOC: Sport recognised as a driver of sustainable urban development in new UN declaration
