Sport Ministers Launch the Fit for Life Alliance at MINEPS VII

TAFISA attended the UNESCO Sports Ministers Conference (MINEPS VII) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 26 – 29 June.  

A long-time Member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), TAFISA was invited to join the event that was attended by 120 Ministries from all continents. TAFISA President Wolfgang Baumann and Secretary General Jean-François Laurent first joined the Multistakeholders’ Forum on 26 – 27 June, which provided a platform for discussion for the key pillars of UNESCO’s Fit for Life campaign:

• Championing Gender Equality in and Through Sports
• Sport and Priority Africa
• Youth Take the Lead
• Evidence and Data to Drive Investment
• Sustainability of Major Sports Events

The MINEPS VII Conference continued on 27 – 29 June with contributions from numerous countries that led to the adoption and launch, by acclamation, of the Fit for Life Alliance, a coalition of Sport Ministries and stakeholders worldwide that pledge to promote and develop physical education, physical activity and sport. 

MINEPS VII represented a great opportunity for TAFISA representatives to nurture existing partnerships and develop new collaborations, as TAFISA President and Secretary General met with Mongolian Minister of Sport Mr Bat-Erdene, Botswanan Honourable Assistant Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr Buti Billy, Thai Director General of the Ministry of Sport, Department of Physical Education Dr Niwat Limsuknirun, Kenyan Academy of Sports CEO Ms Doreen Odhiambo, PhD, WHO Head of Physical Activity Unit Dr Bull,  African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Coordinator Dr Chipande, AUSC Region 5 CEO Mr Mutoya, Nike Director Global Community Impact Ms Korf, IWG for Women and Sport CEO Ms O’Keefe, Women Sports International President Ms Huffmann, Global Observatory for Women and Sport Research Director Ms Mwambwa, ENGSO Youth Chair Ms Chmeliauskaite, among many others. 

On 28 June, Jean-François Laurent was also invited to contribute as a speaker during the Global Observatory for Women and Sport’s side event on “Counting the Steps: Sharing Learning and Good Practices on Women and Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport”.