With 'sport for all' on its agenda,the Commonwealth sports ministers will discuss how sports can be used for social and economic upliftment,with the focus on youth development,in their meeting during the Games in New Delhi on October 4. The fifth biennial meeting of Commonwealth sports ministers will chaired by India's Sports Minister M S Gill. The ministers will hear from the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS) which was established in 2005 to promote value of sport as a tool for social and economic development,including using sports to improve achievement and attendance in school,to improve health,create cohesive communities,and tackle inequalities in society. They will be briefed by Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell and World Anti-Doping Agency Director General David Howman,a release from the Commonwealth Secretariat said here. Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said sport can be used as a tool "in positive social transformation". "At every turn,the Commonwealth has reaffirmed its belief that sport is for the many and not for the few,and that it can be a powerful tool in positive social transformation. It can advance our most cherished goals in the Commonwealth: those of democracy,development and diversity," he said. "I believe the meeting can see us take great strides in establishing 'sport for development' as an integral part of our Commonwealth Youth Programme,as part of wider Commonwealth Secretariat activities particularly in areas like health and education,and - perhaps most importantly of all in the policy and programme agendas of all our member governments," he added. Sharma will be in India for the sports ministers' meeting,and he will attend both the opening and closing of the Commonwealth Games. At the meeting,the ministers will be updated on United Nations activities on Sport for Development and Peace,a topic which will also be presented by Ms Akua Sena Dansua,Minister of Youth and Sports in Ghana. Dr Bruce Kidd,Chair of CABOS,stressed that sport is not only about competition and the performance of elite athletes. "While the inspiration provided by the Commonwealth's sporting heroes is powerful,it is not enough to make a difference. It needs to be followed up with sustainable programmes if the promise of sport for development is to be realised. That is the urgent challenge facing the Commonwealth,and one which ministers will be discussing in New Delhi," he said. Commonwealth Secretariat Sports Development Adviser,S S Chhabra,said,"There is increasing recognition that sport can be used as a strategy towards realising the Millennium Development Goals of universal education,gender equality,child and maternal health,the prevention of HIV/AIDS,and global partnerships. "It is an enormous challenge to ensure that every young person in the Commonwealth enjoys the rights,benefits and cultural participation of sport and physical activity,but that should be our goal."
