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Session 4: Taking the S4D platform forward in India – Where do we go from here?
The last session summarized the deliberations and learnings from the earlier sessions, and suggested a way forward for
harnessing sport for development. Many new perspectives came to the fore. The discussions reached a general consensus on
sport as a way of directly impacting and influencing multiple areas of development. This session thus elaborated on the vital
role sport plays in building capacities of young people, and how it can create opportunities for them.
Moderator: Mr Pratik Kumar, Magic Bus India Foundation
Panel (in order of proceedings):
1. Mr Poul Hansen, United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP)
2. Mr Raj Kishore Mishra, Commonwealth Youth Programme, Asia Region
3. Mr P Michael Vetha Siromony, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development
4. Mr OP Singh, Department of Sports, Government of India
Key deliberations:
1. Mr Poul Hansen
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Mr Poul Hansen said that sport and physical education can be an
extremely productive opportunity to support new talent. He also
said that partnership in all areas is extremely important, affirming
that the governments have a vital role in coordinating with
organisations for development of and through sports.
He suggested that by bringing sport clubs, federations and NGOs to
work with schools, one can provide skills that schools teachers may
not have, and thus, bring physical education back in schools.
Impressed by the role Community Sport Coaches play in connecting
development to sport, he encouraged bringing up of role models like
them, who would work on a day-to-day basis in local communities as
community leaders as volunteers in sport programmes. He also
called upon support from the corporate, government and non-government organisations.
Contact Mr Poul Hansen at phansen@unog.ch
Know more about the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace at
www.un.org/wcm/content/site/sport/home/unplayers/unoffice
2. Mr Raj Kishore Mishra
Mr Raj Kishore Mishra shared his views on the development of
sports, suggesting that the foremost step is a compulsory
introduction of physical education as a part of the education
curriculum in schools. He said that the direct consequences of this
would be a reduction in school drop-out rate, increase in life
expectancy, improvement in various social development indicators,
enhanced gender equity, and greater social inclusion and harmony.
He elaborated on how schemes like PYKKA provide universal access
to sports in rural areas and harness potential sporting talent among
rural youth. Mr Mishra felt a need for introducing specific
development and peace messages in all sport programmes like those
on environmental protection, gender equity, HIV protection, peace
and development. He added that introduction of these messages would help attain the development goals. Further, he
added that the role of media and corporate houses is important for development of the concept of sport for all. He
called upon them to let go of their obsession with glamorous, elite sports, and relook at strategies promotion and
development of sport.
Contact Raj at rajmishra@cypasia.net
Know more about the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Asia Region at www.cypasia.net