Rana Sanaullah lauds UNESCO's role in sports education

Islamabad: Prime Minister's Advisor on Inter Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah Khan on Wednesday called for supporting international efforts focused on sports for peace and development and building a bright future for coming generations.

He said this during his visit to UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Wednesday, while attending the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics and represented Pakistan at the ´Change the Game' Ministerial Forum.

The Advisor also participated in the discussion focused on 'Leveraging Quality Physical Education and Sport for Sustainable Social Legacies.'

He appreciated UNESCO for organizing this high-level forum in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Rana Sanaullah said the mega sports events, like Olympics, act as a unifying force in bringing together the entire world in healthy competition - where all of us are winners.

He said physical education and sports provide productive pathways for individuals as well as societies to build resilience and skills, such as leadership, communication, team-building, and critical thinking.  He acknowledged that sports also teach discipline, develop friendship across borders and play a positive role in promoting mutual understanding, celebrating cultural diversity, and enhancing physical and mental health of youth.

The Advisor said UNESCO has a central role to play in this field and can assist Member States through its capacity building programs on physical education and sports.