The International Olympic Committee has taken a step forward in collaboration between development finance institutions and the sports movement during the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), held this week in Seville under the umbrella of the United Nations. The role of sport as a driver of sustainable development and a tool for building safer communities was one of the central themes of the meeting.
FFD4 brought together heads of state, policymakers, development banks, and civil society leaders to address key issues such as inequality, gender-based violence, climate change, and the need for inclusive and sustainable financing solutions. The outcome of the conference was captured in the final document known as the Seville Commitment.
Investment in sport and social return
During the plenary session “Financing efforts to build a better world through sport,” IOC member Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan emphasized that investment in sport generates significant social and economic benefits. Feisal called for strengthening cooperation by integrating sports investment into national financing frameworks, promoting innovative and mixed financing formulas, and exploring instruments such as social impact bonds and debt swaps for preventive policies.
Prince Feisal cited recent examples of collaboration, such as the Olympism365 summit and the Finance in Common Summit, as well as the Paris Summit on Sport and Sustainable Development in 2024. In this context, the Finance in Common Sport coalition has committed to investing $10 billion in sports and sustainable development projects by 2030. The IOC, for its part, has increased its budget to promote the positive impact of sport by 10%, reaching $650 million for the period 2025-2028.
Sport as a tool to prevent violence
The IOC also co-organized a high-level event entitled “Financing to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” in collaboration with the UN Spotlight Initiative, UN Women, the UN Population Fund, the International Organization for Migration, the Government of Uganda, and the Global Civil Society Reference Group.
At this session, representatives from governments, civil society, international organizations, and financial institutions discussed sustainable financing solutions to combat gender-based violence. Prince Feisal highlighted the urgency of investing not only in sport, but also in partnerships and leadership that generate real and lasting impact.
Strategies and projects for equality
Prince Feisal highlighted how sport, when developed in safe and inclusive environments, can help prevent violence. The IOC’s Olympism365 strategy already reaches tens of millions of people through 550 sports initiatives in 175 countries, promoting gender equality, education, peacebuilding, and the protection of vulnerable groups.
Among the notable initiatives is the Safe Sport Regional Hub Initiative, currently in its pilot phase in southern Africa and the Pacific Islands. These hubs bring together governments, civil society, health professionals, and sports professionals to create local solutions for prevention, response, and long-term systemic change.
Prince Feisal concluded by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the IOC and the United Nations system, which encompasses multiple joint programs aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to advancing global development through collective effort.
