Sheikha Hind calls for global coalition to advance social development through sport

Qatar Foundation's Sheikha Hind has urged global leaders from sport, government, policy, development, and civil society to form a coalition aimed at leveraging sport for social development. The call came during a three-day dialogue held by Qatar Foundation (QF) and Wilton Park, focusing on the theme 'Sport for Development in the Global South: Advancing Female Empowerment, Inclusion, and Accessibility'.

During the event, Sheikha Hind highlighted that existing sporting systems continue to exclude women and girls, and emphasized the need for changes across policy, research, finance, infrastructure, coaching, and athletic pathways. The dialogue brought together policymakers, development practitioners, rights advocates, multilateral development banks, NGOs, and sport administrators to explore ways in which the Global South can shape international priorities and ensure solutions reflect local realities.

A post-event policy brief outlining actions, partnerships, and approaches to breaking down barriers facing women and girls, people with disabilities, and displaced communities in accessing and benefiting from sport will be developed by QF and Wilton Park. Sheikha Hind invited attendees to join a global sport-for-development coalition that will turn commitments into action, based on a landmark 2025 United Nations resolution that has since been co-sponsored by 71 countries.

Sheikha Hind emphasized that barriers women and girls face in sports are fundamentally different from those faced by boys, with issues such as safety risks, stigma, and a research landscape largely ignoring their needs. She called for a shift from parity to recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls in sports, including safety concerns, stigma, and the lack of tailored coaching and research.

Describing sport as one of the most underused tools for development, Sheikha Hind argued that it builds confidence, mobility, leadership, and opportunity, particularly for women and girls in impoverished communities. However, she stressed that access remains deeply uneven, with structural, cultural, and often invisible barriers preventing many from participating.