Beyond 2030: Converging and collaborating to strengthen sport's contribution to sustainable development

The potential for sport to make positive contributions to society is well recognised, and sport is acknowledged in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as an important enabler to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But with only 18% of the SDGs having been achieved so far, how can policy-makers, academics and practitioners across sport and civil society converge, collaborate and leverage private/public partnerships over the next five years? And what will be the role of sport in building a better world beyond 2030?

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The Sport Development Network (SDN), in partnership with The Commonwealth Secretariat and ConnectSport CIC, brought together leading voices from across academia, policy and practice to explore and debate these questions.

Click on the videos below to watch the speakers' presentations

Overview and context

Dr Lin C Sambili Gicheha, Adviser, Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) at The Commonwealth and Dr Ben Farai Sanders, Executive Director, The International Platform on Sport and Development

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Research, evidence and knowledge on sport and the SDGs: What really are the gaps?

Prof Iain Lindsey, Head of Department, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University

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Industry insights: Systems Approaches in Sport for Development

James Mapstone, Chief Executive, Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice

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Industry insights: Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport

Dr Lombe Mwambwa, CEO, Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport Chargée de recherche, Institute of Sport Science, Université de Lausanne

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Industry insights: Sport for Development & Peace - Some contemporary and future developments

Prof Richard Giulianotti, UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development and Professor of Sociology at Loughborough University

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About the SDN:

The Sport Development Network (SDN) is an informal network of professionals working in different areas of community sport development, who believe in the use of practice-informed research and research-informed practice. Each year the SDN holds an annual convention, with an in-person event being held every second year. In September 2024, it was hosted by Nottingham Trent University with more than 80 colleagues attending from across academia, policy and practice.

To find out more, visit uksdn.org or contact sdnchair@gmail.com

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