Omar Diedhiou: Senegal calls for recognition of sport as element of urban resilience

Sport should be officially recognized as one of the key components of urban resilience and integrated into public policy in the areas of healthcare, education, and climate adaptation, the representative of the Ministry of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Territorial Development of Senegal, Sekou Omar Diedou, said during a panel discussion at WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, existing approaches to evaluating sports infrastructure no longer reflect its real impact on the quality of urban life.

"Today, cities often measure the number of stadiums and facilities built, but that is not enough. We must measure the travel time to the nearest sports space, the frequency of sports activities, the participation of girls and women, as well as the accessibility of these spaces for people with disabilities," Diedou noted.

He emphasized that sport should be viewed not as a secondary area, but as a full-fledged element of sustainable urban development.

"It is necessary to officially recognize sport as one of the components of urban resilience," the representative of Senegal concluded.