Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development

To mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the Commonwealth Secretariat will host the annual Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development.

This year, the 6th Commonwealth Debate will be held virtually on Thursday 31 March 2022 from 18:00 to 20:00 GMT - 19:00 - 21:00 CET 

The sixth edition of this annual event will see two teams made up of officials, experts, athletes and youth leaders debate whether: ‘To ensure inclusive, equitable and safe access to sport for all, investment should only be made to organisations demonstrating complete adherence to international human rights laws and principles.’

Register for the event HERE.

See the programme and speaker profiles HERE. 

Programme

1900 CET Welcome remarks from Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth

1910 CET An introduction to the debate by the moderator Radha Balani, Co-Managing Director thinkBeyond

1915 CET 6th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development. ‘To ensure inclusive, equitable and safe access to sport for all, investment should only be made to organisations demonstrating complete adherence to international human rights laws and principles.’

Arguing for the motion: 

• Hon. Aurore Mimosa Munyagaju, Minister of Sports, Government of Rwanda
• Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor, University of West Indies
• Dr Payoshni Mitra, CEO, Global Observatory for Women, Sport, Physical Education and Physical Activity
• Professor Jack Anderson, Professor of Law, University of Melbourne

Arguing against the motion: 

• Hartwell Mhundru, Human Rights and Inclusion Lead, The Commonwealth Games Federation
• Fahmida Faiza, Head of Social Responsibility and Safeguarding, South Asian Football Federation
• Paula Tesoriero MNZM, Disability Rights Commissioner, New Zealand Human Rights Commission
• Theresa Goh, Para Athlete representing Singapore

2015 CET Questions from the audience and open panel discussion

2040 CET Special Address

• Anne Wafula Strike MBE, Commonwealth Champion for Equality in Sports
• Dr Ben Sanders, Senior Consultant, sportanddev

2050 CET Adjudication and Closing Remarks

• Dame Louise Martin DBE, President, Commonwealth Games Federation
• David Rutherford, Principal, Tuhana Business and Human Rights Chairperson, and CABOS
• Stephen McCubbin, Co-ordinator, Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Network (CYSDP)

2100 CET Close

Should you require any additional information or assistance in the run up to the event, please do not hesitate to contact the Commonwealth Sport for Development and Peace team at SDPcommonwealth.int.