Along with approx. 50 experts from across sectors and regions, Michael Pedersen accepted an invitation to join the 2017 Commonwealth Sport Policy Expert Roundtable. The Expert Roundtable took place at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, United Kingdom on 6-7 April 2017. It was focused on the following three themes:

• Strengthening ‘sport integrity’ and ‘sport for development and peace’ policy coherence in the Sustainable Development Goals era
• Balancing the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in and through sport policy
• Negotiating international and regional, national, and sub-national policy coherence

Among other interventions of his during the Expert Roundtable, Michael Pedersen particularly emphasized how governments can make a strong contribution to good governance in sport by initiating or supporting the development of national sport governance frameworks and by linking future eligibility for public funding to sport organizations’ ability to implement such frameworks. He also made the case for governments to attach high priority to finding effective ways of scaling and replicating proven methods to utilize the unique power of sport in positively contributing to addressing societal challenges.

One of many organizations sharing evolving good practices at the Expert Roundtable was the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). In her interventions, Louise Martin, President of CGF and Chair of Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport, shared how principles and strategies to safeguard human rights have become an essential part of the Federation’s Transformation 2022 strategy, including a particular focus on bid processes and delivery of major sports competitions as well as children’s rights.

Beyond participating in the two-day Expert Roundtable, Michael Pedersen also attended the 2nd Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development. The Debate took place at Australian House in London in the evening of 6th April 2017 to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. It was focused on the following experts debating the motion ‘corruption in elite sport undermines the potential to promote development and peace through community sports’:

• Lord Bates, Minister of State at the Department for International Development
• Professor Cora Burnett-Louw, Director of the University of Johannesburg Olympic Studies Centre
• Janine Thornhill, Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Network
• Mark Cutajar, Chief Executive Officer of Sport Malta
• Peace Proscovia, Captain of the Ugandan Netball Team
• K.A. Juman-Yassin, Vice President for Americas of the Commonwealth Games Federation

For further information, see the following links:

• ‘Sport for Development and Peace’ section of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s website
• Podcast of the 2nd Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development
• Website of Commonwealth Games Federation
• Michael Pedersen’s article about the governance leadership of Commonwealth Games Federation, based on an interview with CEO David Grevemberg
• M INC. > change the game activities in support of sport for development
• News item about Michael Pedersen also joining two UNESCO expert working groups on sport integrity, contributing to the preparations for the Sixth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VI)