International Activities

Sport Canada is involved in a wide range of international activities which are highlighted by the following key areas:

a) Access and Equity

Sport Canada promotes the important contribution that sport makes in the holistic development of individuals and society at large. People should have the opportunity to participate in sport as a means of enhancing their individual physical, moral and social education and development and improving their overall well being and life skills. For this reason, sport should be available to all. Within this context, Sport Canada has identified a number of target groups whose opportunities to participate in sport have been inappropriately limited, particularly girls and women, people with a disability, and aboriginal people.

Sport Canada promotes and develops opportunities for these target groups by supporting the hosting of and participation in various international fora to stimulate policy and program development, and representation of target groups, where possible, in international programs (e.g. bilateral agreements, international sport development programs). For example, Sport Canada is an important partner in the hosting of the 3rd World Conference on Women in Sport which will be held in May, 2002 in Montreal.

b) Ethics and Anti-Doping

Canada is fully committed to fair, ethical, and drug-free sport. Canada is a recognized leader in the field and continues to work in partnership with a number of domestic and international partners. International collaboration and co-operation is an important component of the overall strategy to promote the principles of fair play and to eradicate doping in sport.

Sport Canada monitors, leads and/or participates in several international anti-doping conventions and agreements. Sport Canada is also an important partner in the co-ordination of international governmental efforts to combat doping in sport, and the development of the World Anti-Doping Agency whose operational headquarters are in Montreal.

c) International Development through Sport

Sport Canada promotes increased recognition and support of the vital contribution that sport and related programming can make to international development through participation in various international fora and through leading, participating in, and supporting various international sport development programs - particularly in the Commonwealth and countries within the Francophonie.

In recent years, there has been increased recognition that sport can contribute effectively to the achievement of many objectives of international development assistance. This includes enhancing health and self esteem, promoting human rights, encouraging good governance and democratic principles, building institutional capacity, and improving the situation of girls and women, aboriginal peoples, people with a disability and youth at risk within society.

In addition, due to its inclusive and integrating nature, sport is an effective forum to deal with key social development objectives, such as providing education on important topics such as basic hygiene, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, drug use and lifestyle counselling as well as engaging children and youth in community development projects.

• Strengthening Sport Policies and Programs, part 1
  
• Developing and implementing international exchanges and agreements in sport
  
• Supporting Canadian Excellence in International Sport
  
• Supporting the Hosting of International Sport Competitions in Canada
  
  

DID YOU KNOW THAT ... ? 93% of Canadians agree sport is a way of building national and community spirit. (Angus Reid, 2000)