Newly Established Global Network Calls for Sport Skills Development at 59th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development

On 15 February, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the ADECCO Group, the European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI), and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) held a side event on ‘Skills for the Sport Eco-Systems’ during the 59th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD59).

While presenting the vision behind the recent formation of the ‘Global Network on Sport Skills (GNSS)’, representatives from the four organizations discussed the pivotal role that sport plays in the development of skills and the relevance of such skills in terms of increasing employability,

The side event highlighted the need to consolidate and strengthen efforts towards the recognition of skills learned in and through sports, also in the context of a world that has changed drastically with the COVID-19 pandemic.

To this end and acting as an open-ended multisectoral network, GNSS will support the work of its members, accelerate promising initiatives and advocate for global recognition of sport skills and their connection with employability.

During the panel discussion, GNSS members presented their respective initiative on the subject and elaborated on the framework and the goals of the network, i.e.:

• Create awareness of employability skills learned in and through sports
• Promote flexible and value-added, implementable skills frameworks based on agreed skills and recognized skills benchmarks
• Develop skills framework and/or support members to tailor their approach to skills learned in and through sports for the members
• Mobilize collaboration among stakeholders and resources towards action-research
• Promote the work and accelerate the initiatives carried out by the members and the network

Mohammed Hanzab, Chairman, ICSS, said;

“For the ICSS It is important to understand how learning opportunities can emerge from sport and sport-based initiatives and how these opportunities can have an impact on the development of skills within young athletes and youth in general towards their future careers.

In the past years, we have been exploring such an important subject through the implementation of several EU-funded projects, and we are now keen to continue and further expand this work as a proud member of the Global Network for Sport Skills.”

Alberto Bichi, Executive Director, EPSI, sad;

“EPSI as a European membership-based networking organisation strives to identify a quantifiable framework in order to harmonise the existing actions and initiatives related to skills development through sport programs. Hence, EPSI has been extensively working on developing and implementing various projects and initiatives focused on promoting skills development within different sport settings and it is keen to continue its commitment in the field as a proud member of the Global Network for Sport Skills.”

-ENDS-