Olympism365 Summit focuses on social commitment of sport

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - The first-ever Olympism365 Summit, organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was held here on Wednesday, calling for global collaboration to build a better world through sport.

Around 300 attendees from across the world gathered in Lausanne, where IOC President Thomas Bach outlined the mission in his opening speech - to put sport at the service of society.

"The purpose of this Olympism365 Summit is not only to reflect on how far we have come, but, more importantly, to chart the course for the future. What we have built together over the past years is only the beginning. Now is the time to take these efforts - and the goals of the Olympic Agenda - to new heights," Bach said.

According to the IOC, the objectives of the Olympism365 strategy are to "ensure more people, from more diverse backgrounds, benefit from participating in community sports programs and accessing Olympism '365 days a year'", with over 550 initiatives currently being delivered across 175 countries and regions by the IOC, National Olympic Committees and various implementing partners.

The morning session, titled "Building a Better World Through Sport", featured discussions on topics such as sport, education, employment, health, equality, inclusion and community development.

An IOC Youth Summit is scheduled for Thursday, concluding the Olympism365 Summit with a presentation of Summit Outcomes.

Bach said: "The IOC is fully committed to strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are addressing 11 of the SDGs at the same time: peace, health, social inclusion, gender equality, sustainability and more."