Peace and Sport participated as an Observer in the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (CSMM) held in Glasgow on 22 July ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, bringing field-based expertise and evidence to discussions on how sport can contribute to healthier, fairer and more inclusive communities across the Commonwealth.
Sport as a policy tool for stronger Commonwealth communities
Gathering Ministers, sporting organisations and representatives of the Sport for Development and Peace movement around the theme “Reimagining the power of sport: towards healthier, fairer and equitable Commonwealth communities” the meeting focused on the role of sport as a practical policy tool to advance development, inclusion, gender equality, social cohesion and peace. Discussions also highlighted the need for stronger investment and cross-sector collaboration to translate these ambitions into lasting impact.
This vision is particularly relevant for a Commonwealth community where 60% of citizens are under the age of 30 and where many countries continue to address challenges linked to inequality, unemployment, social cohesion and post-conflict recovery.
The outcomes of the meeting will contribute to shaping sport-related discussions at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in November 2026. In the Meeting’s outcome document, Ministers reaffirmed the importance of ensuring that major sporting events deliver lasting developmental legacies, including through infrastructure, skills transfer, employment opportunities and community empowerment. They also recognised the need for safe, inclusive and equitable sport systems that respect human rights and address barriers to participation.
From local action to policy commitments: lessons from the Peacemakers Project
In this context, the key findings and recommendations from the Peacemakers Project were shared with all participants ahead of the meeting. The initiative was designed to strengthen the capacity of grassroots organisations and identify the conditions that enable sport to effectively contribute to resilience, social cohesion and peacebuilding.
Drawing on experiences from several countries, including Commonwealth Members India and Togo, the Peacemakers Project provides practical insights into what makes sport for development and peace initiatives effective, sustainable and impactful.
The Peacemakers Project was also highlighted as a case study in the Global Sport and SDGs Baseline and Initial Impact Report, released by the Commonwealth in February 2026, further recognising the contribution of community-based sport programmes to sustainable development objectives.
A central recommendation emerging from the project is the need to invest in the training, support and recognition of sport educators. The Peacemakers Project learnings underline that more than coaches or instructors, they are trusted mentors, role models and agents of change who help translate the values of sport into everyday behaviours and community transformation.
This recommendation directly echoes the conclusions of the CSMM and its Ministerial Statement, where Ministers recognised the importance of targeted capacity-building and investment in community sport to ensure that sport’s contribution to development and social cohesion can be fully realised.
By bringing evidence from grassroots experiences and actionable recommendations into international policy discussions, Peace and Sport continues to bridge the gap between local practice and global policymaking, ensuring that community experience helps shape more effective sport policies for peace and sustainable development.
