The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, will host its 7th annual Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development on 4 April.
The debate – a seminal event marking the 2023 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace - will offer a platform for Commonwealth government officials, young people, athletes, academics, civil society and the private sector to take part in an important conversation examining key issues impacting sports across the Commonwealth’s 56 countries.
Commonwealth experts in two high-profile panels will debate the proposition that: ‘A compassionate sports sector should enable the charge for a healthy mind, body and planet’.
The debate will enable conversations around the use of sports to address climate change, and how sports can take more of a leading role in tackling physical and mental health issues across the Commonwealth. It is hosted during the Year of Youth which aims to put youth issues at the centre of the global agenda and give young people a platform on a series of high-profile events in 2023.
Register to watch the debate live online
Debating teams
Arguing for the motion:
-
Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports, The Gambia
-
Melissa Wilson, Co-Founder of Athletes of the World
-
Claire Poole, Founder and CEO of Sport Positive
-
Dr Walker Ross, Lecturer, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh
Arguing against the motion:
- Dr Ellen Barnie Peprah, Physician & Coordinator of the Commonwealth Health Youth Network
- Dr William Bird, General Practitioner and CEO of Intelligent Health
- Hayley Jarvis, Head of Physical Activity at Mind
- Professor Corinne Reid, Professorial Fellow with the Global Health Academy and the Academy of Sport, University of Edinburgh
Programme
|
13.30-14.00 |
Log on to Zoom for online audience |
|
14:00 |
Welcome Remarks Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of The Commonwealth Dr the Hon Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness, Government of Jamaica Professor Liz Grant, Director, Global Health Academy, Usher Institute, The University of Edinburgh |
|
14.15 |
An introduction to the debate by the moderator Professor Grant Jarvie, Director and Chair of Sport, The University of Edinburgh |
|
14:20 |
7th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development: ‘A compassionate sports sector should enable the charge for a healthy mind, body and planet. |
|
15:20 |
Questions from the audience to the debating team members |
|
15:35 |
Special Address on Equality in Sport Anne Wafula Strike MBE, Secretary-General’s Champion for Equality in Sport |
|
15.40 |
Special Address on Climate Change and Sport Unnikrishnan Nair, Head of Climate Change, Commonwealth Secretariat |
|
15:45 |
Adjudication and Closing Remarks Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Games Federation Closing remarks from Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth |
|
16:00 |
End of Debate |
For further details, please contact the Commonwealth’s Sport for Development and Peace team at [email protected].
Learn more about last year’s debate
Media contact
- Amy Coles Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
