Sports for Development now

The IDB‘s Office of Outreach and Partnerships (ORP) began leading the sports area connected with development in order to incorporate the program into the Bank’s operations (within the Youth and Citizen Security Strategy) and make it into a regional priority. This has sparked great interest in social investors and agents of change, and it has great potential for forging partnerships among important partners.

Within the framework of the 2014 World Cup for soccer in 2014 and the 2011 competition in Colombia (Sub 20), as well as the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, the Bank is developing a comprehensive strategy to link sports initiatives to the work being done in different sectors. The following actions to increase visibility, achieve economies of scale, innovate and multiply resources have been taken to date:

• In the 2009 and 2010 Clinton Global Initiative, the Bank presented 10 action commitments in different strategic areas in order to create interest and new opportunities for partnerships with entities and organizations interested in working with this issue.
   
• Raise funds from the Government of the Republic of Korea to support the sports initiative related to development from a social and economic investment perspective during the World Cups of 2011 and 2014. The IDB is contributing a total of US$1 million, as follows:
• A US$750,000 project to publicize Korea’s successful experiences in the 2002 World Cup in the area of infrastructure, comprehensive urban development and social development for Brazil.
• A US$250,000 for Colombia to introduce innovative initiatives in sports centers, in order to integrate young people into social situations through sports, prevention of violence and citizen security.
   
• ORP was at the Final Draw for the 2010 World Cup and at the launch for the first Football for Hope center in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, in December 2009, in order to promote experiences and participate in events with FIFA.
• Within the framework of the December 2009 Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility, a panel was held about sports and development with IDB Youth, Streetfootballworld, Compañeros de las Américas, Fundación Avina, Fundación Kellogg, Microsoft and FUDE.
   
• FIFA and Streetfootballworld, through its Football for Hope movement, are contributing US$250,000 for Colombia’s young people’s World Cup in order to publicize successful experiences for the 2014 World Cup.