Paris, February 29. The Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, Gabriela Ramos, and the President of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation of Cuba (Inder), Osvaldo Vento, valued here today the contribution of sport to sustainable development.
At the UNESCO headquarters the head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector and the senior Cuban official gave continuity to their meeting hold just over a year ago in Havana, in which they had addressed the importance of the practice of sport and physical activity for a healthy life. They underlined the commitment of the parties to continue strengthening their cooperation in the sector, focused on contributing to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable.
Mr. Vento who was accompanied by the Cuban ambassador to UNESCO, Yahima Esquivel, shared the expectations on the island for the celebration this year of the 60th edition of the National School Games and proposed to Ms. Ramos to have the UNESCO logo in the awards that will be given to the young athletes.
In an interview to Prensa Latina after the meeting, the president of the INDER pointed out that another topic discussed was the interest of the Caribbean nation in promoting projects of social benefit from sports, with emphasis on the most vulnerable communities. We are also working on some proposals for UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, which we share, he added. Regarding the role of sport in sustainable development, he recalled that it will be an issue of relevance in the agenda of the meeting of ministers to be hosted by Paris on July 23 and 24, before the opening of the Olympic Games in the City of Light (July 26).
Mr. Vento acknowledged UNESCO's willingness, reiterated by Assistant Director-General Ramos, to empower sport in building more inclusive, resilient and peaceful societies, principles that guided the launch in 2023 in Baku of the Fit for Life initiative.
(Permanent Misión of Cuba to UNESCO-Prensa Latina)