The permanent mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva organized an event on the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The event was held in cooperation with the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and the Generation Amazing Foundation of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

A number of diplomatic missions, international organizations, civil society organizations in Geneva, sports federations, and officials participated in the event.

The event provided an opportunity to determine good practices and related challenges, with a particular focus on the role of youth in promoting sports to advance human rights and sustainable development, raising awareness of sports as a tool for peace and youth participation, and demonstrating how the use of sports by the United Nations and other actors is harnessed to bring youth together.

Acting Charges D'Affaires of the State of Qatar's permanent delegation to Geneva Jawhara Al Suwaidi said that the State of Qatar's prominence in the sports field was thanks to the state's strategy, that made sports one of its primary tools to establish its 2030 national vision. She added that this was reflected in the state's decision to mark the second Tuesday of every February as a Sports Day. The goal of the event is to promote a healthy lifestyle among Qatar's population. She also said that Qatar is a member of the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace in Geneva and New York. The Group constitutes an informal intergovernmental platform for promoting dialogue, encouraging UN Member States and the UN system to integrate sport into their policies and strategies, as well as exchanging national experiences and practices, exchanging information and proposing initiatives for members of the Group and the UN system.

She pointed out that the State of Qatar has designed infrastructure that meets the requirements of FIFA for accessibility, including accessible stadiums, transportation networks, accommodation, fan areas, and all other aspects for people with disabilities and people with limited mobility, in order to ensure equal accessibility for persons with disabilities. She also highlighted that the FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be the first major tournament that's Carbon-neutral. She stressed that these massive infrastructure improvements will not only serve the objectives of Qatar's National Development Strategy, but will provide a strong legacy of increased access and inclusion for many years after the tournament ends.

Al Suwaidi stressed that despite the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), in disrupting progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals, integrating sport into recovery policies and strategies can help to return to the right track, and restore the achievements that were erased due to the epidemic.