2005 is only ten years away from the deadline of the UN millennium Development Goals. We all know the promise made by world leaders at the turn of the millennium to fight poverty; to perform on eight simple goals.

The 2005 Human Development Report is crystal clear. We are not keeping our promise to the world`s poorest. The signs of the times are not in favour of the fight against poverty best. Luckily 2005 will provide us with plenty of opportunities to make real global impact.

Here we need the help also of the sports associations and individual athletes to mobilise people, politicians and the private sector.

No one can communicate better than famous athletes and sports stars.

No one can reach further in terms of number - both those who are active, and those watching and listening.

This is a fantastic arena to promote the message of fighting poverty, caring about those in need- and reaching out to those watching and listening.

But sport is more than promotion.

We like to see that sport is a stronger tool. A tool to promote development and peace, in refugee camps, in packed urban slums, or distant villages, sport is a developer of social improvement. A movement for social change.

To achieve this effect, we need commitment, strategy and action.

As many of you know, Norway launched the first strategy on culture and sport in development just a month ago. Also internationally this is unique. This shows that the Norwegian government is committed to sport as a tool for development.

Norway has been involved in sport projects in development countries for more than 20 years, since the first startup of the “sport for all” project in Tanzania 1984. It was not a very successful project I have heard.. so we have lessons learned..

And you here at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, you have the knowledge and results as we will hear today.

Today Norway is using sport as a tool for development in many areas. The reason for this is simple.

We know the power of sport.

We know that participating in sports can build confidence and teach life skills.

By becoming a team player, having respect for the opponent, realizing the need for practise to perform better, learning how to manage victory and overcome defeat- These are lessons that will serve anyone well in life, in the developing as well as the developed world.

We know that entire communities can benefit from sport initiatives. Sports movements and organisations represent opportunities for empowerment. If managed well, these movements represent a unique arena for participation and expression.

And perhaps most importantly.

We know that participating in sports can offer happiness and hope, even when nothing else does.

One of the speakers on the ( international conference on sport and development and peace )“ “The Next Step” conference in Zambia was an 18 year old girl from Mathare Youth Sport Association ( MYSA). She spoke on behalf of 10 000 youth in the slums of Mathare in Kenya. For fifteen years MYSA has worked with sport for development built on volunteer work and youth participation.

So has MYSA reduced poverty? Prevented crime, improved the environment?

Mathare Slums are still among the worst slums to grow up in.

There are of course many important improvements like healthcare, better environment, respect between the sexes and education through funds. Let me add the personal benefits of participating in sports of course, that goes without saying, doesn`t it..

But, most importantly, MYSA gave a voice to the voiceless.

A voice is the ONE thing that poor people miss the most, according to the 60 000 interviews of the world bank a couple of years ago.

The youth leader of MYSA spoke for 10 000 youth of the slum.

The Mathare United football team used to be laughed at and beaten up after games in the Kenyan league. They used to be boycotted and ignored by the national sport council.

But not anymore.

Now they are the voice which speaks up in the fight against corruption in Kenya, a voice that cannot be ignored by any politician, because it has become popular.

‘The voice of the ignored youth of the slums has become too popular to be ignored. A youth sports movement”!

This shows that sport associations built on voluntarism and respect can make changes.

Today is the UN international day for peace.

Sport can both release and increase the tensions in a society. Every day we get reports from sport arenas where the game has resulted in acts of violence and hatred both in local games and international games whether they are cricket, basketball, football or other.

We are sorry to say, but it is the parents- the grown ups –the experienced and educated- that are the teachers of hate. When children are left alone to play with each other, the hatred is less sustainable

For instance, at the Balkans and the Open Fun footballschools supported by the Norwegian Football Association, we have also learned that if we make an effort, sport can create unity were there is divide, trust where there is suspicion and joy where there is nothing but conflict.

Now I am proud of the achievements that Norwegian sports associations, NGOs and their local partners have achieved. ‘

But this is not why we have a strategy.

The strategy is to step things up.

The knowledge we have, the results we have achieved, what can we learn from them and are we sharing our successes and failures with others?

Can we inspire more partners in development to use sport?

We would like to see a partnership between international federations on lifting the sports movements and the national federations in poorer countries..

Not for export of young talents or gold medals

But for the sport-for-all possibilities and commitments.

I mentioned the achievements of MYSA earlier. There are many NGOs that have similar achievements, also many present here today. But next to Mathare there is an even bigger slum, where the problems of violence, crime, alcohol, drugs and abuse are even worse. And they are still voiceless next to their more famous Mathare slum.

My point is: Even if we are proud of our results, we need to step it up. To look at the broader picture. To include more children in “sports for all projects”. All children and youth meaning also the disabled children and youth.

Therefore the strategy aims to promote the integration of sport as a tool in education, in health programs, HIV/AIDS programs, programs on reconciliation and peace. Special attention should be put to the development of physical education in schools.

Sports or movement games are healthy and inspiring and give children an opportunity to play and develop the physical and psychological strength they need in order to learn and grow.

Having the knowledge and the strategy ready we would like to stress the importance of input from you, the Norwegian researchers on sport .

First, we stress in our strategy that we will collect lesson learned. This includes gathering and collecting information on what other research institutions are doing. In a new field like sport in development it is important that we gather the information on international research.

Secondly, to see what works and what doesn’t and to continue to overcome the obstacles to sport as a tool.

More than twenty years have also shown us that sport cannot create miracles.

We still have many challenges.

I`d like to point out three major ones.

They are abuse, racism and corruption.

The abuse of young talents from Africa and other places, where poverty puts people in situations where agents and trades can profit from desperate situations for children , youth and their families.

The abuse is also physical and sexual abuse of young athletes in their local clubs. We know this happens in Norway, we know this happens in our partner countries. We need to make the necessary means to fight this

Now racism in sport seems to have a new area.. Our non –white national team players meet it everywhere they go.

Corruption, cheating, they are challenges for the international sport arenas as well as the local scene.

These three challenges – abuse, racism and corruption – are of course not isolated to the sport field. They represent major challenges to society as a whole, and to local, national and international development. And we need to attack them at all levels and all parts of society – including sport.

We have confidence in sport.. in the game.. in the ability to create hope where there is none. To fill in the hope gap.

Sport for the fun it creates. Sport for everyone, and then

Sport for development and peace.

In order to promote the use of sport, we need solid facts of failures and successes, lessons learned, models, analysis and inspiration.

This is why we arrange this conference today.. Give us the knowledge and the analysis we need in order to step it up

To put our strategy into action.

Thank you all for participating.