United Nations - Sport as a catalyst for social inclusion

H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the UN at the panel convened by the UN’s Division for Social Policy and Development

At the 56^th session of the Commission for Social Development, H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Monaco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, took part in a meeting organised by the UN’s Division for Social Policy and Development on 30 January 2018, which brought together diplomats, representatives from the private sector, NGOs and academics.

H.E. Ms Picco, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Commission for Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport, recalled the IOC’s increasing engagement with the UN and its agencies to promote social progress.

She illustrated this by presenting the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which seeks to create basic, safe and accessible sports facilities and to offer sporting activities to disadvantaged groups throughout the world. The Ambassador also talked about the Become the Light campaign, which promotes the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

Emphasising that sport is part of Monaco’s DNA, she highlighted the Adapted Sport Manual produced by the Peace and Sport association, which has, over the last decade, been offering targeted development through sport programmes in a number of countries across all continents.

The panellists recognised the importance of getting large multinational companies, the sponsors of major events, world renowned sports teams and the media involved in helping to improve the social situation of disadvantaged or marginalised groups in our modern societies.