The National Sports University in conjunction with Goa University, Dom Bosco College, the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the International Society for Comparative Physical Education (ISCPES) hosted an international conference on the theme “Fit for Life: Empowering Youth through Physical Education, Sports, and Traditional Sports,” February 18-20, 2025 at Goa University, Goa, India.
The conference brought together a group of global scholars and activists to address 24 keynotes on the importance of developing and employing systems to raise awareness and enhance physical education, and physical activity through robust research, policy development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
Shraddha Chickerur, Programme Officer, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO, provided an overview of UNESCO’s work in promoting sport as a fundamental human right for children. While recognising the progress that has been made, she argued that the lack of research and data in some countries stymies the achievement of desired goals and objectives of the programme. The lack of research and robust data was a recurring theme throughout the conference, especially in the developing countries. Sushil Ram (Advisor, Commonwealth Secretariat) discussed the work of the Commonwealth in promoting sport and physical activity. A good example of the work of the Commonwealth is the Commonwealth Youth Games, which was held in T&T in 2023.
Jens Sejer Anderson, Founder and senior advisor to Play the Game, addressed the issue of “Strengthening Athlete Power in Sport.” This is a critical issue as it relates to creating safe spaces for youth sports development to prevent all forms of abuse- sexual, physical, mental, and financial. The need for explicit policies, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation is raison d'être in protecting athletes from nefarious behaviour from fellow athletes, coaches, other technical staff, and administrators. Similarly, Efthalia Chatzigianni (University of Peloponnese, Greece) and Verena Burk (University of Tübingen, Germany) addressed the importance of good governance in sport at all layers- international, regional, and national- to prevent corruption and all other economic and political wrongdoings in the administration of sports.
Piyush Jain (Founder of Physical Education Foundation, India) spoke about developing systems to promote physical education and creating a culture of physical activity in India, specifically focusing on children from poorer socio-economic communities. Jorge Knijnik (Western Sydney University, Australia) discussed gamed-based experiential and fun way of handball pedagogy. A common theme by all the presenters was the importance of children having fun learning and practising physical education and activity. Swarup Mukherjee (National Institute of Education, Singapore) discussed the importance of understanding, detecting, and managing sport injuries, especially as it relates to young athletes and career development. Paolo Bertaccini (Instituto Internazionale Italiano Studi Sport Societa, (IIISSS) spoke about ensuring the theory of sport and physical education is aligned with praxis to optimise the desired objectives where participants are empowered.
Tommy Ng (National Institute of Education, Singapore), Joeng Hyung Cho (Chung-Ang University, Korea), Takashi Fukushima (Technical University of Munich/Tokyo University, Japan), Naoki Suzuki (Tokyo Gakugei University, Japan), and Mark Smith (Loughborough University, England) discussed the role of technology in developing physical education in schools, optimising athletes’ technical skill development and minimising the risk of injuries. Smith’s presentation on using technology to analyse fast bowlers’ techniques and questionable actions was very illuminating as it can contribute significantly to early detection, correction, minimising risks of injuries and prolonging the careers of fast bowlers. The advanced technological App will allow for quick assessment and enable developing countries such as in the Caribbean to collaborate with its young male and female fast bowlers from an early age to address any technical issues.
Akshai Mansingh (Dean, Faculty of Sport, UWI), Martin Toms (University of Birmingham, England), Maria Beatriz Rocha Ferreira (State University of Campinas, Brazil), Eliana Lucia Ferreira (President of the Latin American Association of Sports Sciences, Physical Education and Dance, ALCIDED), Anand Rampersad (Faculty of Sport, UWI), Gopinathan Kishore (ISCPES), Francisco Serrano Romero (ISCPES) and Walter Ho (ISCPES) addressed various elements of the socio-economic, cultural and political ecosystem that influences and shapes engagement in physical education, physical activity and organised sports.
Helen Miliou (University of Athens), (Sharmella Roopchand-Martin (Deputy Dean, Faculty of Sport, UWI), Rosa Lopez de D’ Amico (ISCPES, President), Claire Boursier (University Paris Nanterre, France), and Akash Jha addressed sport inclusiveness as essential elements of the UNSDGs based on gender, disabilities, and indigenous games through research, policy development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
The conference addressed topics central to promoting physical education, physical activity, and sports as a vital human rights aspect. The challenge is for policymakers and administrators to demonstrate commitment to achieving these desired goals in a sound, enabling governance system.
