As a long time strategic partner of UNESCO, FIFA recently participated in the 7th International UNESCO Conference of Ministers of Sports and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VII) in Baku, Azerbaijan. MINEPS is the only global platform of its kind, engaging governments, intergovernmental organisations, the sports movement, academia, and specialised NGOs. The prestigious event brought together over 50 ministers and high-ranking officials and more than 540 delegates from 124 countries and international organisations to discuss how best to use sports as a driver of positive change and as a vehicle to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). FIFA attended as an observer along with other global sports organisations. The conference was preceded by a Multistakeholder Forum, where stakeholders from leading NGOs, philanthropic organisations and professional athletes voiced their support for UNESCO’s sports framework.

One of the highlights of the conference was the adoption of UNESCO’s Fit for Life Alliance document. The Fit for Life framework was initially launched on 15 November 2021 during UNESCO’s General Conference in response to COVID 19 and with the aim of accelerating recovery. It is a global initiative designed to advocate smart investments in sport to drive outcomes in education, equality, and well being. The initiative is a cross sectoral framework and tool to accelerate more movement and participation in sports and measuring the impacts of their participation across society. Click here for the MINEPS VII Outcome Document: Fit for Life Alliance, which endorses the implementation of the Fit for Life sports initiative at national and international levels. The document was signed by Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov and the Assistant Director-General for UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos.

The first MINEPS was held in Paris in 1976 and focused on promoting physical education as a fundamental right for all. Further editions took place in Moscow in 1988, Punta del Este in 1999, Athens in 2004, Berlin in 2013 and Kazan in 2017. FIFA has often stressed the importance of partnerships between governments, national associations and global sporting bodies to enhance access for all to sport and in particular football.