A high-level assembly of international leaders from the sectors of government, sport, development, and civil society has been called upon to establish a new global coalition. This initiative, launched during a recent dialogue hosted by the Qatar Foundation (QF) and Wilton Park, aims to transform sport from a simple pastime into a potent engine for social progress.
The three-day convening, titled ‘Sport for Development in the Global South: Advancing Female Empowerment, Inclusion, and Accessibility,’ focused on the critical need to overhaul sporting systems that have historically marginalized women and girls. Participants interrogated the current state of policy, research, infrastructure, and athletic pathways to identify why these exclusionary patterns persist. Development practitioners, rights advocates, NGOs, and sport administrators, participants explored how the Global South can play a greater role in shaping international priorities and ensuring solutions reflect the realities of the communities they are intended to serve, bringing together policymakers.
Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and a prominent advocate for female participation in sports, used the forum to invite stakeholders into a coalition that moves beyond theoretical commitment. She highlighted the necessity of taking concrete steps toward equality, specifically noting that the effort is built upon the ambition of the landmark 2025 Resolution 59/17. This resolution, spearheaded by Qatar on behalf of a group including Indonesia and Morocco, has secured the backing of 71 co-sponsoring nations. Speaking at the dialogue, Sheikha Hind Bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and a leading global advocate for women’s and girls’ sport, invited those attending to join a global sport-for-development coalition that “carries commitments forward and turns them into action” – building on a landmark 2025 United Nations resolution enshrining sport as a human right and a means of empowering women and. She emphasized that the goal is to build: “A sustained agenda to advance shared goals through sports with a coalition of partners assembled deliberately.”. Qatar Foundation stands ready to help lead this effort.”. And Olympic fencing medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad also attended, alongside The Honorable Charles S, leading athletes including sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Addressing the concept of parity, Sheikha Hind argued that current approaches often fall short because they assume identical needs. She emphasized that the barriers encountered by girls, including social stigma, safety risks, and a scientific research landscape that overlooks female physiological needs, are distinct and significant. The high rates of injury among female athletes and dropout rates among adolescent girls, she noted, stem largely from sporting pathways designed without women in mind.
To address these systemic issues, the proposed strategy focuses on closing the gap in practice. This involves integrating women into the design phase of sports facilities, mandating coaching that is specifically tailored to women’s requirements, and fostering a robust body of scientific research dedicated to women’s sports. Describing sport as an underutilized development tool, Sheikha Hind underscored its ability to foster leadership, confidence, and mobility in impoverished communities.
Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President-Elect of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, offered a strong endorsement in his opening address. He noted that sport frequently achieves social shifts in the Global South that few other interventions can manage, altering community perceptions of girls. He affirmed that the 81st Session would prioritize inclusive multilateralism, the 2030 agenda, and human rights within this framework.
Qatar’s commitment to this cause is evidenced by its ongoing investments and the legacy of events like the 2006 Asian Games—which it will host again in 2030—and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. At Education City Stadium, over 70,000 women and girls have engaged in sporting events in the last two years. Furthermore, the ‘Creating Pathways’ program has supported more than 1,000 girls in specialized training across volleyball, fencing, track and field, basketball, and tennis.
The collaborative effort extends to the ‘Circle In’ initiative, a partnership between QF, the International Olympic Committee, and the Education Above All Foundation. This project currently supports sport-for-good initiatives across 10 countries, targeting marginalized groups, including those with disabilities.
Professional sporting entities were well-represented at the dialogue, featuring delegations from the International Paralympic Committee, Olympism365, the British Olympic Association, the Special Olympics, and the New Zealand Olympic Committee. These groups engaged in deep discussions regarding the role of international donors and the expansion of sport access for underserved populations.
Victoria Nussbaumer, Executive Director of the FIVB Volleyball Foundation, added that the duty of these organizations reaches past the boundaries of the playing field. She argued that the objective must be to create comprehensive career pathways—ranging from coaching and photography to media and leadership—to ensure that the opportunities provided today secure a lasting legacy for tomorrow.
Ultimately, Wilton Park and the Qatar Foundation have committed to developing a formal roadmap that outlines specific partnerships and strategic approaches. The goal is to break down the cultural and structural barriers that have long prevented displaced communities, people with disabilities, and women from fully accessing the benefits of sports participation. And the barriers are structural, cultural, and often invisible until you look closely.”, but access remains deeply uneven.
