International conference on sports and development

December 2003 -

An international conference on sports as a tool for sustainable development was held in Amsterdam on 13 and 14 November.

The objective of the conference was to bring together those who are involved in sports projects in developing countries. The participants exchanged know-how and experience in a series of workshops.

There was also a debate on the subject of sports as an instrument for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The participants in this round-table discussion included the Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, special advisor to Kofi Annan with reference to sports and development Adolf Ogi, former world champion speed skating Johan Olav Koss, who now heads Right to Play, and Robert Bayiagamba, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports in Rwanda.

The symposium was organised by the National Committee For Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports, the Netherlands Olympic Committee and the Netherlands Sports Federation.

Immediately following the conference the Prince Claus Fund gave a reception honouring the presence of Peter Serry and Bob Munro, the director and the founder of Mathare Youth Sports Association in Kenya. This organisation is one of the ten recipients of the Prince Claus prizes 2003, each of which consists of an award of € 25,000.00.