To mark the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on 6 April, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) reaffirms its commitment to using sport for good.

Sport has a unique power to unite cultures and to promote inclusion in society, while the EOC also recognises the tremendous potential of sport to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of health, education and gender equality.

President Spyros Capralos reiterated the EOC’s commitment to achieving this and spoke of the symbolic nature of the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023’s Flame of Peace Ceremony at the Ara Pacis in Rome in the build up to the anniversary.

President Capralos said: “For 10 years, we have used the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace to celebrate the power of sport to drive social change.

“It is fantastic to be able to look back at all the work that the EOC, the National Olympic Committees around Europe and the whole world of sport have done in this time.

“Hosting the Flame of Peace lighting ceremony for the European Games 2023 at the Ara Pacis temple, built as a symbol of peace and brotherhood, earlier this week and holding the Games under the slogan of ‘We Are Unity’ are important ways to continue to portray this message.

“And we still have so much more to achieve. We must continue to harness the power of sport to encourage equality and inclusion, and to drive us forward towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

“So please, join us in celebrating. And join us in working to make sport a vital tool for development and peace.”

The UN General Assembly, supported by the International Olympic Committee, declared April 6 the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on 23 August 2013.

This historic step recognised the transformative power of sport and the EOC, along with sports organisations across the world, have helped use that power over the past 10 years.