Vienna / Information Office / January 28

The State of Qatar highlighted the role sports can play in preventing violence among youth, combatting crime and drugs, and establishing peace and creating dialogue among different civilizations, one of the pillars of the Doha Declaration Global Programme which was announced at the conclusion of the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Qatar.

This came in the speech of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Austria and the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansori, in a virtual meeting organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna on the impact of sports on preventing violence among youth and combatting crime and drugs.

Al Mansori said that there were great achievements made over the past five years in enhancing the ability of countries in using sports to empower young people, which helps achieving the sustainable development goals.

He added that the State of Qatar realized early on the important role sports play in preventing crime, and enhancing the economic and social goals stated in Qatar National Vision 2030. He added that the state established a ministry for sports and culture and Qatar Sports for All Federation to promote the importance of sports in achieving these goals.

He also said that the last 40 years saw the State of Qatar become a leading player in the sports arena regionally and internationally, by organizing prominent sporting events, one of which is the FIFA World Cup 2022.

HE Ambassador Al Mansori concluded the speech by calling for establishing partnerships between governments, sports organizations, and civil society to rely on sports to prevent crimes among youth.