Statement by Mr. Amit Narang, Counsellor,  at  United  Nations General Assembly debate on Agenda Item 12 : Sports for Peace and Development on October 26, 2015

Mr. President, 

We welcome the emphasis that this Assembly has laid on Sport as an agent of peace and development. India strongly concurs with the recognition of Sport as an ideal to be pursued for several noble objectives that are at the heart of this organization's work.

Mr. President,

In ancient Indian tradition, exercise, which is at the heart of sport, was considered an inseparable part of good health. As an old proverb in Sanskrit says:

व्यायामातलभतेस्वास्थयम्, दीर्घायुषमबलमसुखम

आरोग्यमपरममभागयंस्वास्थयम्सर्वार्थसाधनम

Emphasizing the virtue of health as the basis of all achievements, the author here is extolling the benefit of exercise for health, long age, strength, freedom from disease and ultimately happiness.

Sport plays an important role at both the individual and the social levels.

At an individual level, as the Sanskrit proverb just quoted notes, sport is directly linked with good health, an important objective of development policy and needless to say now a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal.

At the same time, Sport also builds character. It helps motivate children and youth, inculcating in them the much needed espirit de corps or team spirit, a sense of partnership with others. 

It also develops leadership skills, a spirit of sharing, of competing fairly and respecting others.

At the social level on the other hand, there can indeed be no more powerful medium than sport to inspire and bring people together for a common purpose. 

Principles such as non-discrimination and equality including gender equality and the foundation of human rights can be taught through sports. 

Sport also helps foster peace and a feeling of friendship among all people and nations. 

Mr. President,

We are happy that the contribution of Sport as an important enabler of Sustainable Development has been duly noted by our Leaders in the Declaration of the 2030 Agenda.

The Agenda has correctly recognized the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.

Mr. President,

India wholeheartedly recognizes the invaluable contribution of the Olympic Movement in establishing sports as an ideal means for the promotion of peace, good neighborliness and development. 

We welcome the upcoming XXXI Olympic Summer Games and the XV Summer Paralympics Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

We wish our friends in Brazil all success in hosting this remarkable celebration of the human spirit.

In the same vein, we would like to commend the efforts of the organizers of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, the Cricket World Cup in Australia & New Zealand, the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, the Universidad in Republic of Korea and the European Games in Azerbaijan.

Mr. President,

At the national level, sports, games and physical fitness have been an integral part of the Indian heritage, evident even today not only in the highly evolved system of yoga, but also in the vast range of indigenous games and martial arts practiced in different parts of India.

A young and resurgent India has once again embraced sport. This is evident in the revival of several sports, not to mention Hockey and Kabaddi, that are today competing with Cricket for television viewership.

Yet, India is a developing country where the sporting infrastructure has not been able to match the growing demand. Our higher density of population has also meant a comparative lack of open spaces, especially in urban areas. 

Indian government is fully engaged in pursuing policies to ensure that the pursuit of sport is available to every Indian. 

Mr. President,

Allow me also to highlight the important role of Yoga as a practice for both physical and mental health.

Recognizing the rich and proven expertise of this ancient practice for building healthy individuals and communities, the Government of India has redoubled its efforts to promote Yoga as an important health and sporting activity throughout the country. 

In this context, the decision by the Assembly last year to commemorate June 21st as the International Yoga Day and unprecedented celebration the 1st International Yoga Day on June 21st this year are particularly gratifying for us. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the General Assembly and indeed the entire membership for this valuable support.

Mr. President,

Taking a cue from the United Nations Office of Sports for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organizing the 7th Global Sports Summit 'TURF - 2015' in October this year in New Delhi. 

This is an international convention on sports business which aims at establishing a platform to bring together all stakeholders for developing a healthy sports goods industry and promoting grassroots development of sports in India. 

Mr. President,

Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, who famously used sport for social harmony and peace couldn't have put it better when he said 'Sport speaks to people in a language they can understand'

We would do well therefore to use this tool that speaks universal language in the the pursuit of our universally recognized goals - peace and development for all.

Allow me to conclude by once again emphasizing India's sincere belief that sports and all sporting events strengthen the cherished bonds of goodwill and understanding that unite us as one family.

I Thank You.