The important role of sport in achieving sustainable development goals was discussed during the opening of the first Arab Conference on Sport at Art Rotana Amwaj Hotel in Muharraq yesterday.
Organised by the Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry, the two-day event is being held for the first time in the Arab region in cooperation with the United Nations Office in Bahrain and the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Sports and Recreation (ICHPER.SD).
The conference’s opening session highlighted the slogan ‘The Role of Sport in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals’. It was attended by around 200 participants, headed by Youth and Sports Ministry’s assistant undersecretary Khalid Al Haj.
In his opening remarks, Al Haj said the first-of-its-kind gathering in the Middle East has been one of the leading initiatives for the kingdom in the youth and sports sector, which was unanimously endorsed by the Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports Council.
Strategy
Renowned football coach Marcello Lippi, who is the main speaker, stressed on creating a culture for sustainable development and learn from mistakes, a strategy he has implemented as a coach.
Yesterday’s inaugural session of the first theme covered the role of sport in implementing social goals for sustainable development, which was presented by UK’s Dan Powell and Egypt’s Dr Ranya Al Alwani.
Bahrain’s Dr Hashim Hussain and Dr Omar Al Obaidly as well as Dr Ashraf Sobhi of Egypt spoke in the second session, which was about the role of sport in applying economic goals to achieve sustainable development.
Earlier, an introductory film kicked off the opening ceremony, which was followed by an operetta highlighting the importance of sport on communities all over the world.
The remaining sessions are scheduled for today, the concluding day of the conference, from 9.30am onwards.