IOC, Prince Feisal Calls for More Cooperation for Sports Development at FFDF

The United Nations recently held the Fourth Financing for Development Forum (FFDF) in Seville, Spain. It brought together a diverse assembly of heads of state, policymakers, development banks, and civil society leaders.

The forum addressed urgent global challenges, including inequality, gender-based violence, climate change, and the increasing demand for sustainable and inclusive financing solutions.

These themes were summed up in the final resolution, known as the Sevilla Commitment.

Addressing the plenary session titled “Financing Efforts to Build a Better World through Sport,” IOC member HRH, Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan underscored the huge social and economic returns generated by investment in sport.

He stressed the importance for enhanced collaboration, urging joint actions that integrate sport-based investments into national financing frameworks and innovation strategies.

During his opening remarks, Prince Feisal asserted the critical need to bolster support for sport-based approaches and partnerships that drive sustainable change.

He posed an impactful question to attendees: “Are we ready to invest – not just in sport, but in the partnerships and leadership that drive real, lasting impact?”

Additionally, he advocated for the provision of innovative and blended financing aimed at scaling sport-based interventions and evaluating the application of social impact bonds and debt swaps to bolster investment in preventative policies and programmes, particularly those employing sport as a tool for change.

Prince Feisal pointed to various examples of recent collaborative successes, including the IOC’s Olympism365 Summit and the Finance in Common Summit, and anticipates the forthcoming Paris Summit on Sport for Sustainable Development in 2024.

Feisal also affirmed that when sport is safely and inclusively delivered, it is a powerful medium for addressing violence.

He highlighted the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, which has reached tens of millions of individuals through 550 sport-based initiatives across 175 countries.

“These programmes advance gender equality, education, peacebuilding, and protection efforts, including challenging harmful norms and preventing violence against women and girls,” Feisal explained.

These agendas have resulted in concrete commitments and financial allocations, with the Finance in Common Sport Coalition pledging to invest USD 10 billion in sport and sustainable development projects by 2030.

Furthermore, the IOC has increased its budget dedicated to promoting the positive impact of sport globally by 10 per cent, reaching a record USD 650 million (AUD 988 million) designated for 2025-2028.

In conclusion, Prince Feisal highlighted the importance of collaboration between the IOC and the UN, noting that it encompasses multiple joint programmes addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to advancing global development through collective effort,” Feisal asserted, reinforcing the role of sport in achieving broader societal objectives,” Feisal concluded.

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