Monaco participates in UNESCO's Ministerial Forum 'Change the Game' sports conference

Le Sport change la donne 2 © Sasha Heron

UNESCO's Ministerial Forum, 'Change the Game', was held in Paris on 24 July 2024, with Mr Patrice Cellario, Minister of Interior, H.E. Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Ambassador, and members of the Monegasque permanent delegation.

In his speech, Mr Patrice Cellario reaffirmed the Prince's Government's commitment to promoting sport and physical education through robust public policies, particularly in the fields of education and civil society. The Monegasque delegation took part in a panel discussion on the teachers' role in conveying the values of sport. Mr Patrice Cellario also pointed out that Monaco has been designated the World Capital of Sport for 2025. The actions of the Women's Rights Committee, Monaco's Peace and Sport NGO, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Monegasque Anti-Doping Committee (CMA), were also highlighted. The panel, moderated by Ms Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, also welcomed Ministers from the Republic of Ireland, Mr David Byrne, South Africa, Mr Gayton Mckenzie, Haiti, Ms Nyola Lynn Sarah Devalis Octavius, the President of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, Mr Matar Ba, alongside footballer Raï Vieira de Oliviera and Head of Community and Membership at FC Nuremberg, Katharina Fritsch.

Le Sport change la donne 3 ©DR

The Ministerial Conference, opened by Mr Edouard Matoko, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for External Relations, on behalf of UNESCO's Director-General, gathered around a hundred sports ministers and athletes together in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The round tables focused on the relationship between sport and UNESCO's values and objectives.

During the conference, Mr Patrice Cellario also took the opportunity to hold discussions with his ministerial colleagues from the Principality of Andorra, San Marino, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Luxembourg and with footballer Rai Vieira de Oliviera.

Monaco has been a member of UNESCO for 75 years. Monaco supports UNESCO's sports programme, which establishes public policies for physical education and sports. The Principality also ratified the International Convention against Doping in Sport in 2007.