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 17% of the SDGs having been achieved so far (according to the UN’s 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report), 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?

Join us for this free online event on Thursday 18th September 2025 (1300-1600 BST). 

Keynote speakers include:

  • Dr Lin C Sambili Gicheha, Adviser, Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) at The Commonwealth
  • Dr Ben Farai Sanders, Executive Director, The International Platform on Sport and Development
  • James Mapstone, CEO Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice
  • Prof Richard Giulianotti, UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development and Professor of Sociology at Loughborough University
  • Prof Iain Lindsey, Head of Department, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University

Key themes as follows:

  • With only 17% of the SDGs achieved*, what has been the contribution of sport?
  • Research and knowledge on sport and the SDGs: What do we know so far?
  • Advocating for better systems: How do we convene and collaborate more effectively?
  • How and where is sport’s contribution to the SDGs working most effectively in practice?

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This free-to-attend event is supported by:

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To find out more about the Sport Development Network (SDN) visit uksdn.org or contact sdnchair@gmail.com

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