Lima - Peru - 2013
The International Olympic Committee’s 15th World Conference on Sport for All took place in Lima, Peru, from 24 to 27 April. The Conference brought together over 500 leading experts in the field of Sport for All from almost 90 countries to share their best practices on a wide range of activities.
José Quiñones, President of the Peruvian Olympic Committee, said: “Hosting the World Conference on Sport for All has provided a magnificent opportunity to learn from other people’s experiences, while being able to showcase our initiatives here in Lima. The Conference will remain a milestone for the further development of Sport for All activities in Lima and in Peru.”
The themes of this Conference were: the social benefits of sports and physical activity; the importance of the availability of sports facilities and public spaces; and the cultivation of partnerships. Based on a practical approach, the Conference encouraged participants to experience and learn from actual programmes with site visits to Sport for All initiatives throughout the city of Lima.
Final report on the 15th IOC World Conference on Sport for All
Beijing – China – 2011
The International Olympic Committee’s 14th World Conference on Sport for All took place in Beijing, China, from 20 to 23 September 2011.
Hosted by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Conference was organised by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (BODA).
The Conference focused on the practical implementation of Sport for All programmes and activities, as well as academic studies into the cultural importance and health benefits of physical activity.
“The World Conference on Sport for All provides an ideal forum for international exchanges of ideas and experiences aimed at realising the Olympic ideal, which states that sport is a right belonging to all individuals, without any kind of distinction,” said Liu Qi, Chairman of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association.
As one of the youngest Olympic cities, Beijing had experienced a boom in Sport for All activities, and was a vibrant meeting point for Sport for All experts from around the world.
Key documents:
JYVÄSKYLÄ – Finland - 2010
The 13th World Sport for All Congress took place from 14 to 17 June 2010 in Jyväskylä, Finland, a country with a great tradition in sport and physical activity. It was held under the leadership of the IOC Sport for All Commission and its Chairman, Sam Ramsamy.
Hosted by the Finnish Olympic Committee, this event was organised by the LIKES Research Centre and the University of Jyväskylä under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and SportAccord.
In all, 586 participants from 92 countries worked together to share knowledge, discuss best practices, and study current needs and trends in the field of Sport for All. The Congress declaration issued as a conclusion of the Congress urges the sports movement to play a leadership role in implementing direct action to address declining and inadequate levels of physical activity in communities.
The role of physical activity guidelines in preventing physical inactivity
Richard Troiano (United States of America)
US Public Health Service
The World Health Organization's global recommendations on physical activity for health and the opportunities for the sports world
Eddy Engelsman (The Netherlands)
Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, World Health Organization
Olympafrica: a program of social development through sport
Thierno Alassane Diack (Senegal)
Olympafrica International Foundation
From vision to reality: New understandings and challenges for the global Sport for All movement
Wolfgang Baumann (Germany)
The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA)
Key Documents:
13th World Sport for All Congress - Final declaration
University Camilo José Cela
Obesity prevention through physical activity in school-age children and adolescents
Further to the conclusions of the Olympic Congress held in Copenhagen in 2009, the Camilo José Cela University in Madrid was appointed to undertake a study entitled “Obesity prevention through physical activity in school-age children and adolescents”.
The result of this study is the production of guidelines composed of 16 recommendations addressed to all people involved in Sport for All. They give concrete examples of what can be implemented at individual, family, school, local, non-governmental and governmental levels.
The methodology used comprised synthesis research and a review of global organisations and scientific works, including 188 documentary sources. The team in Madrid used the search criteria of physical activity, physical education and obesity and prevention and concentrated their research on the individual, family, school, local, non-governmental and governmental level.
The team in Madrid illustrated their study with best practices and concrete examples. The conclusions were drafted by an expert committee, which produced a first intent of ”Physical activity charter”.
This work was presented to the Sport for All Commission during its meeting in June 2010.
To read the full study, click on the following link:
Camilo José Cela University - Study - prevention of obesity
LIKES Research Centre for Sport and Health Sciences in Jyväskylä
Study of declarations
In 2009, the LIKES Research Centre for Sport and Health Sciences in Jyväskylä was appointed to conduct a study of the eight declarations of the 12 previous editions of the IOC’s World Conference on Sport for All.
A series of concrete recommendations and conclusions (starting on p. 48 of the study) were drafted in order to provide key advice on how to further improve the content of the Conference declarations, the main ones being:
- To describe more clearly the purpose and role of the conference
- To be more precise about the goals the declaration wants to achieve
- To put in place a better follow-up of the conference with a step-by-step evaluation plan for the actions undertaken after each conference.
To read the complete study conducted by LIKES, click on the following link:
LIKES - World Sport for All Congress Declarations - Content Analysis - 2010
GENTING HIGHLANDS – Malaysia - 2008
Sport for All – Sport for Life
The 12th World Sport for All Congress took place in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, from 3 to 6 November 2008 under the motto “Sport for All – Sport for Life”.
This event was organised by the Olympic Council of Malaysia under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee and its Sport for All Commission, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
Some participants from 96 countries worked together to share knowledge, discuss best practices and find progressive solutions to counteract trends of physical inactivity as well as promoting healthier and active lifestyles for all generations.
The most important insights and conclusions were wrapped up in the documents below, adopted unanimously by all the participants.
Key Documents:
HAVANA – Cuba - 2006
Physical Activity : Benefits and Challenges
The 11th World Sport for All Congress took place in Havana, Cuba, from 31 October to 3 November 2006 and was organised by the Cuban Olympic Committee, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Sport for All Commission, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to debate a theme of particular importance for our societies: “Physical Activity: Benefits and Challenges”.
In total, 1,011 participants from 106 countries worked together to share knowledge, discuss best practices and find progressive solutions.
Key Documents:
11th World Sport for All Congress – Final declaration
ROME – Italy - 2004
Sport for All as a tool for education and development
The 10th World Sport for All Congress took place in Rome, Italy, from 11 to 14 November 2004 with the theme, “Sport for All as a tool for education and development”. It was organised by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), placed under IOC patronage, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
Some 1,186 participants from 112 countries, representing sports organisations, governments at all levels, academic and community organisations and United Nations agencies attended the Congress and worked together to share knowledge, discuss best practices and find progressive solutions regarding the educational and development aspects of Sport for All.
Key Documents:
10th World Sport for All Congress – Documentation
ARNHEM – Netherlands - 2002
Sport for All and elite sport: rivals or partners ?
The 9th World Sport for All Congress that took place in Arnhem, Netherlands, from 27 to 30 October 2002 was coordinated by the Netherlands Olympic Committee * Netherlands Sports Confederations (NOC*NSF) and held under the patronage of the IOC, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
“Sport for All and elite sport: rivals or partners?”, constitutes two different aspects of sport in their objectives and means but are at the same time complementary and mutually related. The 478 experts and sports administrators from 88 countries who gathered in Arnhem undertook a thorough and constructive exchange of views which highlighted issues and solutions relevant to the development of both competitive and leisure sport.
Key Documents:
9th World Sport for All Congress – Final declaration
QUEBEC CITY - Canada - 2000
Sport for All and governmental policies
The 8th World Sport for All Congress that took place 18 to 21 May 2000 in Québec, Canada, was coordinated by Sports Internationaux de Québec in collaboration with the Canadian Olympic Association. It was held under the patronage of the IOC in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
Some 679 participants from 104 countries addressed the theme of Sport for All and governmental policies. The participants shared knowledge, discussed best practices and found progressive solutions to the five main topics around which the event was structured – politico-economic actions, global policies, health and well-being, the elderly and an ever-changing society.
Key Documents:
8th Sport for All Congress - Final declaration
BARCELONA – Spain - 1998
Sport for All and the global educational challenges
The 7th World Sport for All Congress took place from 19 to 22 November 1998 in Barcelona, Spain. The Congress was held under the patronage of the IOC in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
The Congress addressed the theme of Sport for All and the global educational challenges. The participants shared knowledge, discussed best practices and found progressive solutions relating to five main areas: Education and Sport for All; promoting well-being through Sport for All; helping people learn Sport for All; making the inactive active, new and old ways to practise Sport for All; and making Sport for All develop for and through education.
Key Documents:
7th Sport for All Congress - Final declaration
SEOUL – Republic of Korea - 1996
Global Family and Sport in the 21st Century
Key Documents:
6th Sport for All Congress - Final declarationPUNTA DEL ESTE – Uruguay - 1994
Sport for All - Health for All