Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS)

Established in 1978, CIGEPS is comprised of expert representatives in the field of physical education and sport from 18 UNESCO Member States, each elected for a four-year term. The consultative members, comprising UN agencies, key sport federations, NGOs, provide technical support and advice to the Committee.

Its potential

Through CIGEPS, UNESCO has a unique ability to drive government action in the field of sport and physical education and to ensure the implementation of evidence-based physical education and sport policies and programmes around the world. Due to its intergovernmental nature, CIGEPS has the potential to bring Member States together and to engage governments in coordinated international efforts to optimize tangible socio-economic benefits of physical education and sport programmes and their potential to deliver a high return on investment.

CIGEPS:

is an action-oriented platform for dialogue and cooperation between governments, the sports movement and other stakeholders.
It identifies major trends, sets the international policy agenda, facilitates information exchange and knowledge transfer, and identifies good practices to develop policy implementation guidelines and tools.
It reinforces accountability of governments and fosters scaling-up of successful initiatives through the monitoring and evaluation of policy implementation.

Since the 2019 extraordinary session, CIGEPS’ role as platform for policy coherence was boosted. The close cooperation established between UNESCO and key United Nations partners such as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO), among others, is critical in ensuring that this Committee contributes effectively to a strengthened global framework on Sport for Development and Peace within the overarching framework of Agenda 2030.

CIGEPS Statutes were revised in 2019 to reflect this new dynamic of policy coherence in a multi-stakeholder setting

Background

UNESCO has been committed to Physical Education and Sport (PES) since the early 1950s when physical education and sport were recognized as important means to foster health and the transmission of values.

The first Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS I), held in Paris in 1976, represents the starting point of UNESCO’s institutional architecture for physical education and sport. As a result, in 1978, two important international cooperation mechanisms were established: the International Charter on PES and the Intergovernmental Committee for PES, CIGEPS.

In the early 1990s, Member States pushed for new orientations in PES policy. As a result, an external evaluation of UNESCO’s activities in PES was undertaken in 1993-94. MINEPS III in Uruguay, 1999, and MINEPS IV in Greece, 2004 were organized to reposition the primary goal of UNESCO in strengthening the educational and social dimensions of PES.

A new period began in the history of CIGEPS in 1997 when UNESCO’s General Conference adopted the Committee’s new Statutes. These established the creation of a Permanent Consultative Council, a body composed of several NGOs and other sport-related institutions, which was to ensure greater participation of civil society, and the sport movement in particular, in the works and decisions of CIGEPS.

CIGEPS played a critical role in the preparation and follow-up of MINEPS V (Germany, 2013), MINEPS VI (Russian Federation, 2017), and MINEPS VII (Azerbaijan, 2023). The Declaration of Berlin made specific recommendations with respect to sport for all, the organization of major sports events and sports governance. The Kazan Action Plan (KAP) marked a shift from declarations of intent to policy actions.

This shift was reinforced by the MINEPS VII Conference and the launch of the Fit for Life Alliance, which foster collective action to support the implementation of Fit for Life around the following focus areas: impact measurement and investment in sport, youth empowerment, gender equality, priority Africa, the sustainability of major sport events, and the safeguarding of participants.

At the 2022 CIGEPS Ordinary session (27-28 October 2022), CIGEPS endorsed, with some amendments, the MINEPS VII draft outcome document and approved the establishment of two CIGEPS Working Groups to support the roll-out of Fit for Life with an advisory and knowledge-sharing role.

To keep the pace with the constantly evolving world of sport and be able to deal with the new challenges and opportunities presented, CIGEPS has adapted its membership and working methods. For this reason, in its 2022 session, the Committee’s members adopted the revised CIGEPS Rules of Procedure (RoP), which provide more inclusive, productive, and cost-effective working standards. CIGEPS Statutes were also revised, in 2011 and 2019.

CIGEPS Statutes – Article I. Mission of the Committee

The Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (hereinafter called the “Committee”), is established within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in order to foster the values, rights and principles set forth in the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport, by:

a) Reducing the disparities, inequalities and imbalances, within and between the nations and the regions of the world, concerning the fundamental right to physical education, physical activity and sport in their diverse forms, including physical play, recreation, organized, casual, competitive, traditional and indigenous sports and games;

b) Safeguarding the ethical values of physical education, physical activity and sport;

c) Developing inclusive physical education, physical activity and sport in the context of formal and informal education systems and within the process of lifelong learning;

d) Upgrading the functions of inclusive physical education, physical activity and sport to promote development and peace.

Consultative Members

Permanent Consultative Members

Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC)
Commonwealth
Council of Europe
European Athletic Association
European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation – ACES Europe
Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)
International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement under the auspices of UNESCO
International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Peace and Sport Organization
The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA)
UNESCO Chair “Development of Youth through Sports Activities”
UNESCO Chair “Doping Studies and Analysis of Anti-doping Policies”
UNESCO Chair “Educational Linkage through International Sport (ELIS)”
UNESCO Chair “Favoriser la contribution du sport, de l'éducation physique et de l'activité physique au développement durable à la paix”
UNESCO Chair “Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport”
UNESCO Chair “Inclusive Adapted Physical Education and Yoga”
UNESCO Chair “Physical Activity and Health in Educational Settings”
UNESCO Chair “Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy for Sustainable Development”
UNESCO Chair “Sport for Development, Peace, and Environment”
UNESCO Chair “Sport, Development and Peace and Olympic Education”
UNESCO Chair “Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development”
UNESCO Chair "Transforming the Lives of People with Disabilities through Physical Education Sport, Fitness and Recreation"
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Global Compact Office
United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR)
United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG)
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR)
UNWomen
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Martial Arts Masterships Committee (WMC)
World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU)

Designated Consultative Members

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques (IRIS)
International Biathlon Union (IBU)
International Fair Play Committee
International Pierre de Coubertin Committee
International University Sports Federation (FISU)
International Working Group on Women and Sport
PL4Y International
Play the Game / Danish Institute of Sport Studies
Right to Play
Swiss Academy for Development
Women Sport International
World Aquatics
World Athletics
World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI)
World Players Association

Reports

Report of the 1st CIGEPS Bureau Meeting 2024-2025, 29 February 2024
Election Report from the CIGEPS extraordinary session, 21 November 2023
Final Report, Ordinary Session, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 27-28 October 2022, also available in French
Consolidated Report for Regional consultations between the UNESCO Sport Section Secretariat and Member States, 27-29 June 2022
Report of the 1st CIGEPS Bureau Meeting, 21 June 2022
Election Report from the CIGEPS extraordinary session, 24 May 2022
Final Report, Ordinary Session, virtual meeting, 28 –29 September 2020, also available in French and Spanish
Informal Consultation Meeting with CIGEPS Member States: report of the meeting, 15 July 2020
Final Report, Extraordinary Session and Joint Meeting with the Permanent Consultative Council (PCC), Geneva, Switzerland 28 –29 March 2019, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Meeting of the CIGEPS Working Group on the revision of the Statutes of CIGEPS, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 18 June 2018, also available in French
Final Report, Ordinary Session and Joint Meeting with the Permanent Consultative Council, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 26-27 April 2018, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Extraordinary Session and Joint Meeting with the Permanent Consultative Council, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 30-31 March 2017, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Ordinary Session and Joint Meeting with the Permanent Consultative Council, Monte Carlo, Monaco, 26-27 February 2016, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Extraordinary Session, Lausanne, Switzerland, 29-30 January 2015, also available in French and in Spanish
Final Report, Permanent Consultative Council, Lausanne, Switzerland, 28 January 2015, also available in French and in Spanish
Final Report, Plenary Session and Joint Meeting with the Permanent Consultative Council, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 14-15 March 2014, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Extraordinary Plenary Session, Baku, Azerbaijan, 14-15 March 2013, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Permanent Consultative Council, Baku, Azerbaijan, 13 March 2013, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Plenary Session, Lausanne, Switzerland, 18-19 April 2012, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Permanent Consultative Council, Lausanne, Switzerland, 17 April 2012, also available in French and Spanish
Final Report, Plenary Session, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 7-8 June 2011, also available in Arabic and Spanish
Final Report, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 7-8 July 2010
Report of the CIGEPS 2008-2009 (35 C/REP/18), 35th UNESCO General Conference, Paris, September 2009
Revision of the Statutes of CIGEPS (35 C/45), 35th UNESCO General Conference, Paris, September 2009
Information Note on the CIGEPS Extraordinary Plenary Session, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 8-9 June 2009
Final Report, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 29-31 January 2008
Report of the CIGEPS 2006-2007 (34 C/REP/18), 34th UNESCO General Conference, Paris, August 2007
Final Report, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 19-20 March 2007
Bureau Meeting: Final Report, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 15 March 2006
Final Report, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France, 30-31 January 2006
Report of the CIGEPS 2004-2005 (33 C/REP/19), 33rd UNESCO General Conference, Paris, August 2005
Report of the CIGEPS 2002-2003 (32 C/REP/19), 32nd UNESCO General Conference, Paris, July 2003