SPORT 1913 - 2013

for All network and facilities.” (CSIT – TAFISA 2012).

more and more evidence has emerged that ev- ery invested euro in physical activity and sports saves around two Euros in the health system of the community (Sport & Gesundheit 2001). It has come to light from Austrian stud- ies that it is not sport that results in cost to the economy but physical inactivity (Studie Sport 2000). Immaterial values such as social, physi- cal and mental and well-being are not calcu- lated. It is clearly shown that encouraging sport, games and exercise as part of the daily lifestyle in a modern health- and social sys- tem, improves the general sense of well-being. With this in mind, a planned close coop- eration with the WHO is on the agenda as well as on the to-do list of the Executive Commit- tee of the CSIT. The United Nations Office on Sport for Devel- opment and Peace based in Geneva, Switzer- land, and supported by a liaison Office in New York, USA, provides the entry point to the United Nations system with regard to Sport for Development and Peace, bringing the worlds of sport and development closer to- gether (UNOSDP 2011). The Office assists the Special Adviser of the United Nations Secre- tary-General on Sport for Development and Peace in his worldwide activities as an advo- cate, facilitator and representative of sports’ social impact in a developed context. In April 2011 CSIT President Bauer and Vice-President Yagodin had the unique chance Cooperation with the CSIT and the UNOSDP

ists around the globe that can provide some aid in tackling all of them, Sport for All and Physical Activity. To underline the importance of solidarity to the global Sport for All Movement the CSIT decided to join this alliance with cross-sector initiatives. A more powerful voice for the mu- tual interest of Sport for All bodies as a joint platform and an increased political power through the synergies between the parties should help to explore and utilise the resourc- es of this network. As of June 2012 the CSIT agreed to respect the principles and objectives of this Alliance and joined this network of Sport for All organisations worldwide. The World Health Organisation is the direct- ing and co-ordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is re- sponsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articu- lating evidence based policy options, provid- ing technical support to countries and moni- toring and assessing health trends (WHO 2012). In the 21 st century, health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defence against transnational threats. Establishing more healthy life conditions for the individual has clearly motivated the long efforts of the workers sport movement. Since the beginning of the new millennium, On Cooperation Partners of the CSIT in the Future Cooperation with the WHO

At the heart of the principles of both organisa- tions, the creation of a more powerful voice for Sport for All and the increase in the profile of Sport for All, especially health enhancing physical activity, must be seen. The CSIT is also keenly interested in optimizing the value and benefit delivered to the organization’s members and all participants in the global sport, physical activity and health move- ments. During the 10 th International Workers Sport Festival held in St. Constantine in Bul- garia in June 2012, the above mentioned Mem- orandum of Understanding (CSIT – TAFISA 2012) was signed by President Bauer and Vice- President Yagodin on behalf of the CSIT as well as board member Wim Florijn on behalf of the TAFISA. Furthermore, on the same occasion the CSIT joined the Global Alliance in Sport for All and Physical Activity for All, an initiative cre- ated by the TAFISA under the title Antalya Agreement (2012). The background of this al- liance is the fact that today’s world is facing a variety of challenges, incorporating every- thing from obesity to globalisation, from con- flicts between cultures to an ageing popula- tion, from an increase in sedentary lifestyle and therefore loss of personal interaction, to terrorism, from financial crises to sustainabil- ity. Whilst there is no singular solution to these challenges, a phenomenon already ex-

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