Morocco takes part in Paris Summit for Sport & Sustainable Development; billions of dollars financing pledged
Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch attended, on Thursday, the summit for Sport and Sustainable Development in Paris. This event is being held on the sidelines of the Olympic Games to officially kick off on Friday evening.
The summit brought together some 500 participants, including heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, athletes, and representatives from the sports movement, alongside development financing actors.
Taking place just before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11) and the Paralympic Games (August 28 – September 8), the summit aims to showcase exemplary initiatives in five key areas: education and employment, health and nutrition, equality and inclusion, financing and impact measurement, and sustainability and legacy.
According to the organizers, namely the French Presidency and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), these initiatives are designed to highlight the integral role of sport in promoting sustainable development goals globally.
Actually, World and business leaders participating in the summit have pledged billions of dollars in financing and committed to supporting various sporting initiatives aimed at accelerating sustainable development, reported the international media.
Leaders agreed on commitments in the fields of education and employment, health and nutrition, equality, inclusion and sustainability, among other topics.
A coalition of public development banks and other financial institutions pledged to invest $10 billion (€9.2 billion) across the world for community-based, inclusive and sustainable sports infrastructure by 2030.
The French Development Agency, one of the sponsors of the summit, said it will release €500 million for sustainable development in sports by 2030.
The IOC also announced a 10% increase in its budget dedicated to Olympic solidarity, amounting to $650 million (€599 million) for 2025-2028.
Akhannouch is representing King Mohammed VI at the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony, during which the Moroccan delegation will parade, alongside the other sporting delegations on boats along the Seine River, in a procession unprecedented in the history of the Olympic Games.
The Moroccan sports delegation to the Olympic Games, which began arriving in the French capital last Thursday, comprises 60 athletes, including 18 women, who will compete in 19 Olympic disciplines.
