In recent years, more and more people around the world have become interested in women’s sports competitions. The UN emphasized the role of sport in strengthening equality and peace Sustainable Development Goals
When sport is accessible to all, it becomes a powerful tool to strengthen social connections, expand opportunities and create shared spaces to thrive. This was stated by the head of UN Women, Sima Bacchus, speaking at an event dedicated to the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, celebrated annually on 6 April, provides an opportunity to showcase the important role of sport and physical activity in the lives of people around the world. In 2026, the UN will focus on how sport “helps build bridges and break down barriers.”
Eliminate hurdles
In recent years, more and more people around the world are interested in women’s sports competitions. In 2023, nearly one billion people watched the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sports was recognized as a tool for women’s empowerment in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, and this was reaffirmed in the final findings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2025 year.
However, some groups still face barriers and discrimination – particularly LGBTIQ+ women, women who wear the hijab, women with disabilities, and members of marginalized ethnic and racial groups.
Potential sport
Head of UN Women Sima Bacchus emphasized that “sport remains one of the most universal languages of humanity – a space where you can restore a sense of dignity, form a sense accessories and imagine new possibilities.”
She noted that in recent years there has been compelling evidence of the transformational potential of sport. “The Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 will be the first in history with gender parity. At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the proportion of female athletes was 47 percent, and almost half of all competitions were dedicated to women. Just a generation ago, such progress would have seemed unthinkable,” said Bacchus.
60~p>According to her, sport has the ability to unite people, promote dialogue, trust and mutual respect even in the most unstable conditions, remaining “a powerful factor
Engine of development and progress
Speaking at the opening of the event on the occasion of the Day at the UN headquarters, Permanent Representative of Qatar Alia bint Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani noted that “sport is a powerful driver of human development and social progress.”
The country’s approach to hosting major international sporting events reflects this vision, she said. “We view such mega-events not only as a platform for sporting achievements, but also as an opportunity to create a meaningful human and social legacy, promote sustainable development and strengthen international understanding,” the diplomat emphasized. world), as well as with the participation of the Peace and Sports organization, the UN Department of Global Communications and UN Women.