World Rugby and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are working with international sporting federations to expand access to sport and strengthen its role in improving health, education, inclusion and community wellbeing.

The Global Sport for Good Initiative, established in 2024, brings together World Rugby, the IOC, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), World Athletics and the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to promote the positive impact of sports participation on individuals and communities worldwide.

The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots sporting programmes by ensuring that community participants’ needs remain central to how activities are organised and delivered.

A key focus is equipping coaches and community sports practitioners with the skills and knowledge needed to make sport more accessible while using it to encourage positive social change.

The partnership is also working to improve how sporting organisations measure the impact of their community programmes, particularly in areas such as physical and mental wellbeing, education, inclusion and community development.

Another priority is encouraging knowledge-sharing between the participating federations, national unions, regional bodies and other partners to improve programme delivery and extend the reach of community sport.

Through these efforts, the initiative seeks to integrate social impact more firmly into the strategies and operations of World Rugby and its member organisations.

It also aims to create more inclusive sporting opportunities, increase participation and help individuals develop resilience and life skills through sport.

Coaches, educators and community sports practitioners are recognised as key contributors to these outcomes, with the initiative seeking to strengthen their capacity to deliver meaningful benefits beyond competition.

Ultimately, the partnership aims to position sport as a tool for wider development, using collaboration and community-based programmes to support healthier, more inclusive and resilient societies.

The post World Rugby, IOC expand sport’s role in community development appeared first on Fiji One News.