“Sport plays a fundamental role in the growth and well-being of every individual. It is a school of healthy competition, understanding of one another, sharing and solidarity. Its role in consolidating healthy and inclusive societies and in promoting a balanced and sustainable development must be strengthened, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Italian experience shows that institutions, private sector and civil society together, through sports, can promote healthy lifestyles, teach tolerance and dialogue, prevent crime and marginalization. “
New York, 9 April 2018: As much was stated by The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, in his speech at the high-level event “Crime Prevention and Sustainable Development through Sports” , held today at the UN Headquarters on the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace established by the General Assembly in 2013. The event, opened by the President of the General Assembly Lajcak and by Executive Director of UNODC Fedotov, was attended by representatives of the International Olympic Committee and of the Missions of Monaco, Italy, Colombia, Qatar and Rwanda, that supported the initiative, as well as by personalities and organizations belonging to the sports world, including the Italian Inter Campus.
Presented at the UN in 2012, Inter Campus, the Social Project of FC Internazionale Milano, returns for the fifth time to the UN Headquarters, after having participated in January at the 56th Commission for Social Development side-events. Since 1997, Inter Campus, in partnership with NGOs and companies, has put sport at the service of development; its football programs for the youngest are now active in 29 countries of the world.
Participating in this high-level event is part of the initiatives promoted by the Permanent Mission of Italy on the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Among these initiatives, “Run for Art” , a photo exhibition, co-organized with Fondazione Giulio Onesti-Accademia Olimpica Italiana and inaugurated on April 5 at the United Nations Head Quarters with the participation of the Italian athlete Novella Calligaris, Olympic medalist and world swimming champion in 1973.
