The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with UNESCO, has previewed a global report containing new data on the contribution of sport to sustainable development, with key metrics on worldwide activity levels, provision of physical activity in schools, gender and investment in sporting provision.

The report was publicised at the 7th international conference of ministers and senior officials responsible for physical education and sport (MINEPS VII) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, June 27. The landmark piece of research is the first baseline report to collate available global data to build an international picture of how sport is contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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During the conference, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland emphasized that the report provides a crucial foundation for measuring the impact of sports on various policy objectives, such as health, education, gender equality, social inclusion, and economic and sustainable development.

She said: "This evidence base provides a transparent accountability framework, which public and private investors and policy makers can access, to show that every dollar spent on sport provides a positive, tangible return which makes a difference in the world. And to show how sport contributes to happier, healthier societies; boosts productivity, trade and economic growth; breaks down the barriers between us, builds kinship, inclusivity and peace; and provides opportunities."

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"Investment in sport can be a catalyst for transformation at all levels – and the Commonwealth, in partnership with UNESCO, is working to translate the laudable intentions we all share into measurable action not only in the Commonwealth Family, but the world over."

The highlights of the report were included in a policy brief presented at a conference session on using data to drive sporting investment.

The report figures highlight the disparity between activity levels of populations in high and low-income countries. Levels of inactivity are twice as high in high-income countries compared to low-income countries which essentially means activity levels decrease with a high or increasing gross national product.

The data reveals that North America (36.2 percent) and the Arab states (35.5 percent), including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, have the highest proportions of adults with insufficient physical activity levels.

On the other hand, from a Commonwealth perspective in Africa, Uganda, Mozambique, and Lesotho emerge as the top three countries with sufficient physical activity levels.

In addition, the data highlights a concerning trend where the majority of countries are falling short of meeting the minimum recommended minutes of physical activity in schools.

The report emphasizes that primary schools should provide at least 120 minutes, and secondary schools should offer a minimum of 180 minutes of physical activity per week. However, the findings indicate that 77 percent of primary schools and 79 percent of secondary schools are failing to meet this target.

The report reveals how much data still needs to be collected globally to fully understand how sport is contributing to the achievement of sustainable development outcomes. For example, looking at the percentage of females who participate once a week in sports and exercise, the only data came from Africa. This represents less than five percent of the world. However, it found that while participation appears high, once you omit netball, participation levels drop drastically.

The global scenario reveals that slightly more than one-third (34.99 percent) of national sport policies consciously align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This statistic suggests that there is still ample room for improvement in leveraging sport to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

The report builds upon the implementation of the Kazan Action Plan, a global multi-stakeholder initiative from MINEPS VI, which was adopted in 2017. Particularly, it focuses on Action 2 of the plan, which aims to "develop common indicators for measuring the contribution of physical education, physical activity, and sport to prioritized SDGs and targets."

This specific action, set forth by UNESCO and its member states and detailed in the Kazan Action Plan, assigned the Commonwealth Secretariat the responsibility to lead the efforts. The Commonwealth Secretariat collaborated with various institutions, governments, experts, and practitioners to fulfil this role.

The comprehensive report will be shared with countries, serving as a foundational reference point for assessing their existing sports programs and facilities. It will enable countries to evaluate their sporting provisions and make informed decisions to enhance and develop their sports initiatives in line with the goals outlined in the report.

The Commonwealth, comprising 56 independent and sovereign states, is a voluntary association. It encompasses a collective population of 2.5 billion, with over 60 percent of its inhabitants aged 29 or younger.