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25 May, 2013

Global Sports Ministers Conf in Berlin Aims At “Clean-up” and Accessibility

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UNESCO Press Release – Fighting corruption and manipulation in sport, increasing public investment, and with it the impact and standards of mega events and the provision of equal access to physical education and sport for all, will be the focus of the International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS V), to be held in Berlin (Germany) from 28 to 30 May.

The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova will open the event, which is organized by UNESCO and the Government of Germany, with the support of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE).

Other speakers at the opening include Germany’s Federal Minster of the Interior, Hans-Peter Friedrich and President, International Paralympic Committee, Sir Philip Craven. Several experts of international renown will set the scene for the conference, presenting the latest research on the three major topics to be discussed.

More than 500 participants representing sports authorities in over 100 countries will attend. They include more than 50 ministers of sport, researchers, law enforcement bodies and other governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and sports practitioners. Work will be divided up into three sessions looking at:

 Access to Sport as a Fundamental Right for All

Too many people are excluded from sport. Governments should implement policies that ensure equal access for girls and women, people with disabilities and socially excluded groups to sports at all levels;

Promoting Investment in Sport and Physical Education Programmes

Around 2% of global GDP is generated by the sport sector. Governments need to recognise that investing in physical activity and education- as well as major sport events – is valuable for social and economic development. A further concern is that the high cost of bidding and the complexity of requirements for major events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games or the FIFA World Cup may limit the number of countries able to host such events.

Preserving the Integrity of Sport

In February 2013, Europol announced that attempts had been made to fix more than 380 professional football matches, as part of a sophisticated organised crime operation. Manipulation of sport competitions, doping, and other corrupt practices at national and international levels are rising everywhere. Measures under discussion to reverse this trend include strong but proportionate sports laws; information sharing and education; and good governance in the sport organisations.

The International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS) was first held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in 1976. The Conference engages governments, organizations from the United Nations system and the Sports Movement. The outcomes of the conference help to guide the implementation of effective policies and practices by governments around the world. They also set the overall direction of UNESCO’s international physical education and sport programme.