| ROME, ITALY-(12-11-2004) Last night the World Congress “Sport for All” opened in Rome. This Congress, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, brings together experts from all over the world to deal with the theme “Sport For All as a Tool for Education and Development”.
A tool for Education and Development
The rich programme will be an excellent opportunity to analyse this vast theme from different angles. IOC President Jacques Rogge spoke at the opening ceremony and underlined the following aspects:
Adapt to lifestyle changes?
“Lifestyles have certainly changed over the last few decades. New leisure activities, habits and sports have become popular. The question is whether “Sport for All” should adapt to all these changes? What can be integrated? What should be avoided? To what extent might we even become a trendsetter?
Special efforts in developing countries
“The advancement of “Sport for All” in developing countries is a challenge that we have to tackle with energy in order to guarantee its universality. Universality, together with education, is one of the most important values of our Movement and has to be a part of all our activities.
Ideal platform to promote health issues
“’Sport for All’ is certainly an ideal platform to promote health issues. I think specifically of the prevention of HIV/AIDS, but also more generally of proper, basic health education, particularly for young people.
Sport has a place in education
“Sport has to have a place within the education framework, not only for the obvious physical advantages, but also to promote personal and intellectual development and a spirit of solidarity and fair play.
Olympic Solidarity Programme
The IOC strives towards the promotion of Sport for All, namely through its Olympic Solidarity Programme, its international cooperation activities and through its Sport for All Commission.”
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