• $10 Billion Investment: Global banks commit to investing in sustainable sports infrastructure by 2030.
• Major Sports Initiatives: FIFA, NBA, IOC, and LA28 pledge significant contributions to global sports development.
• Political and Financial Support: Over 60 heads of state and international organizations back the Paris Agreement for Sport and Sustainable Development.

On the eve of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the first Sport for Sustainable Development (Sport4SD) Summit gathered 500 leaders, including heads of state, government officials, and athletes, to accelerate sport’s role in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Political Commitments

The Paris Agreement for Sport and Sustainable Development gained support from over 60 global leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres. This agreement focuses on five priorities: education and employment, health and nutrition, equality and inclusion, financing and impact measurement, and sustainability and legacy.

“Sport, a driver of solidarity and self-betterment, must allow us to move forward to meet our common challenges and invest in our next generations,” stated French President Emmanuel Macron.

Sporting Initiatives

Key sports organizations made significant commitments:

• IOC: President Thomas Bach announced a 10% increase in the Olympic Solidarity budget, totaling $650 million for 2025-2028, supporting global athletes and sports development programs.
• LA28: Chairperson Casey Wasserman confirmed a $160 million investment in youth sports in Los Angeles parks.
• FIFA: President Gianni Infantino pledged to install 1,000 sustainable football pitches in schools, supporting the 2030 SDGs through the Football for Schools program.
• NBA: Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced plans to build 1,000 basketball courts in Africa over the next decade, in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD).

“The Olympic Games are more than just sport; they are about health, inclusion, respect, and peace. We are committed to making the world a better place through sport,” added IOC President Thomas Bach.

Financial Announcements:

• $10 Billion Commitment: Public development banks and institutions within the Sustainable Development through Sport coalition committed to investing in sustainable sports infrastructure globally by 2030.
• AFD Investment: The French Development Agency will invest €500 million in sport for sustainable development by 2030.

“Sports used to ‘come after the rest,’ but now we aim to integrate sport into the development fabric,” emphasized Rémy Rioux, Director General of AFD and Chairman of the Finance in Common movement.

Future and Impact Measurement:

• New Report: The World Bank Group and AFD will collaborate on a report exploring sport’s contribution to sustainable development.
• Impact Evaluation: An aligned evaluation approach will measure these commitments’ impact, supported by the creation of the French Institute for Research on Sport and Sustainable Development.

“This summit marks the beginning of a dialogue between potential investors and the world of sports, aiming to use sports as a tool for socio-economic development,” concluded Rioux.

Related Article: Will Paris 2024 be the greenest Olympics in history?

Olympic Sustainability Effort

Paris 2024 aims to halve its carbon footprint compared to previous games by using existing facilities and offering locally sourced food. Georgina Grenon, Paris Olympics’ sustainability director, highlighted these efforts, saying, “We turn these games into a laboratory to prove sustainable sports events are possible, leaving a legacy beyond the games.”

The summit’s success underscores the global commitment to leveraging sport for sustainable development, setting a precedent for future initiatives.