THE sixth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development attended by some 3,000 delegates from across the continent urged African officials to catch up and be on track to meet the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The sessions addressed the need to mobilize adequate and well-directed financing. There was also a sharing of ideas around strengthening institutions for more integrated solutions. The multi-stakeholder platform rallied member states and partners to harness science, technology and invest in data and statistics for the SDGs.
Stakeholders made it clear that the year 2020 is an opportunity for the world to chart a different course of action to deliver the SDGs. As the African continent redoubles efforts in fighting corruption and enhancing peace and security, as well as to harness its agricultural, mining and private sector potential, among various initiatives there is need to tap into sport tourism in creating an inclusive, resilient and sustainable world.
Sport tourism by its nature, is an important enabler of sustainable development.
The unique potential of sport enables the fast-growing sector which equates to $7.68 billion, to be used as a platform to campaign for socio-economic progress and raise funds to alleviate poverty.
In my travels, locally and abroad, I have taken part in sport initiatives have been used to raise and generate funds for poverty programmes.
Sport has been central in raising awareness and facilitating the mobilization of resources to alleviate poverty through partnerships with local and international bodies. It is an industry with the ability to lift people out of poverty through employment and contributing to local economies. Combined and packed correctly it all ties up into sustainable sport tourism, promoting livelihoods and advancing development as a powerful enabler of the SDGs.
The potential of sport tourism should therefore be revisited in view of the new framework for sustainable development in order to promote synergy, coherence and harmonization of programmes.
#Africa is off track with regard to meeting the SDGs and the corresponding goals of Agenda 2063.
BUT if we define concrete opportunities and actions and towards leaving no one behind, we will surely catch up and be on track to meet the SDGs.
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