International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

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International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Facts & Quotes

• It is estimated that there are more than 8,000 sports played around the world. Only about 440 are recognized internationally however.
• The first Olympic Games were held in April of 1896 in Athens, Greece. At this point, only 9 sports were part of the games and only 14 countries competed. Men were the only ones allowed to compete as well.
• The most popular sport in the world is Football (known as Soccer in North America). According to FIFA, there are an estimated 265 million football players in the world.
• During World War I, a Christmas truce was declared between enemies. British and German soldiers played football in what was earlier that day a battlefield. It was a temporary peace that was met with impromptu playing of sport.
• Sport has the power to change the world -Nelson Mandela

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Top Events and Things to Do

• Watch a movie that shows the value of sport in development and peace such as Cool Runnings (1993),Invictus (2009), Unbroken (2014), and McFarland, USA (2015),
• Help organize and take part in a sporting event for underprivileged kids such as KidSport or Right to Play International. Any amount of money donated goes toward helping underprivileged kids get involved in sports and keep them happy and healthy.
• Take a picture of you playing a sport and post it on social media with the caption Sport, Peace, and Development. Use the hashtag #iplay, #InternationalDayofSportforDevelopmentandPeace or #IDSDP on social media to spread awareness.
• Assess your current physical health and get active. Most heart diseases, diabetes and cancer cases are largely due to inactivity. Apps such as My Fitness Pal, Apple’s step counter, and Garmin Connect can all help you monitor your fitness goals.
• Organize a friendly match between two groups of friends or families. Pick a sport of your choice and get everyone involved in friendly competition.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace - References and Related Sites