Monaco has reaffirmed its global commitment to inclusive sport by co-hosting an event at the United Nations to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, observed this year on Monday, April 7. The gathering spotlighted sport’s role in challenging stereotypes, promoting social equity, and fostering unity across diverse communities.
Held in New York and organised in partnership with Qatar’s Permanent Mission, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and UN Women, the event laid the groundwork for the upcoming World Summit for Social Development, set to take place in Doha this November.
Centred around the theme of social inclusion, the programme brought together a compelling panel of international athletes who shared personal stories of sport as a vehicle for empowerment and social change. Participants included Paralympic swimmer Jamal Hill, Qatari mountaineer Asma Al-Thani, former US footballer Justin Morrow, American basketball player Veronica Sheffey, and Kenyan marathon legend Tegla Loroupe, known for her advocacy in peace and women’s rights.
The event concluded with remarks from the International Olympic Committee’s representative to the UN, followed by the unveiling of a special edition UN postal stamp series titled “Sport for Peace”. The stamps, presented by the athletes themselves, are part of a broader effort to promote sport as a universal language of hope and inclusion.
