The World Urban Forum (WUF) became a key platform to highlight the role of sports in urban development and its contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This event, which brought together 37,000 participants from 182 countries in Cairo, featured numerous sessions focused on how sports can be a driver of sustainable growth for cities. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) played a significant role by participating in four key sessions, leading discussions on harnessing the transformative power of sports.
Aya Medany, an IOC member and three-time Olympian, was one of the main voices at the WUF. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of integrating sports into urban development: “A city without safe and inclusive access to sports and physical activity is a city that is not fully leveraging its potential for sustainable development,” Medany stated. This message resonated throughout various discussions that underscored how sports can significantly contribute to the localization of the SDGs.
ADVANCING THE SDGS
In a session titled “Advancing the Localization of the SDGs through Sports,” the IOC gathered experts and urban leaders to share experiences and strategies. Among the panelists were Audrey Guiral-Naepels from the French Development Agency and Ahmad Malkawi, City Manager of Amman, who shared their approaches to using sports as a tool for urban development. Aya Medany highlighted the positive legacy of the Olympic Games: “As evidenced in Paris 2024, the Games can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable urban development, benefiting not only host cities but also other communities.”
Michal Mlynár, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, called for leveraging sports to build more inclusive and resilient cities: “Sports have the power to mobilize communities, especially our youth, to tackle the challenge of building accessible cities for everyone,” Mlynár stated. His remarks reinforced the need for strong partnerships and innovative financing to maximize the impact of sports in urban settings.
SUSTAINABLE LEGACIES AND PLANNING
The World Urban Forum also served as a platform to discuss the sustainable legacies of sports events. Experts from Olympic cities such as Barcelona, London, and Brisbane shared how the Games have transformed their communities. In the case of Paris 2024, a 50% reduction in carbon footprint compared to previous editions was highlighted. “95% of the venues were either existing or temporary facilities,” Medany noted, emphasizing a sustainable approach that can serve as a model for future host cities.
Marie Barsacq, Director of Impact and Legacy for Paris 2024, added that the Games left a tangible legacy in France, such as implementing 30 minutes of daily physical activity in all primary schools and creating 5,000 sports fields across the country: “These projects are concrete examples of how sports can be integrated into daily life to create healthier and more active cities,” Barsacq stated.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE IOC AND UN-HABITAT
The IOC’s commitment to sustainable urban development is reflected in its ongoing collaboration with UN-Habitat. Through the Sports for Sustainable Urban Development Initiative, both organizations aim to promote more inclusive and healthier cities by integrating sports into daily life. This partnership is part of the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, which reinforces the role of sports in advancing the SDGs.
Since 2001, the World Urban Forum, convened by UN-Habitat, has been a crucial space for examining the challenges of rapid urbanization. Under the theme “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities,” this year’s event underscored the importance of community-led solutions to address global issues such as climate change and urban inequality.