The UNESCO “Change the Game” Sport Conference, held in Paris on 23-24 July 2024, brought together global leaders and experts to discuss the social impacts of sport. ACES board member André de Jeu participated in this significant event, underscoring the transformative power of sport in fostering inclusive and healthy communities.

The conference featured a Partner’s Forum on the first day, with opening remarks by Gabriela Ramos (UNESCO), Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, Anne Hidalgo (Mayor of Paris), and other notable figures. The forum highlighted the importance of integrating sport into social policies and launched UNESCO’s “Social Impact of Sport Report.”

The second day featured the Ministerial Forum, setting the stage for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. High-level policymakers and sport professionals, including Andrea Abodi (Minister of Sport, Italy) and Sima Bahous (UN Women), discussed leveraging sport for sustainable social legacies.

André de Jeu actively promoted the importance of cities, municipalities, and regions in the societal value of sport on behalf of ACES. He also garnered significant attention for the official UNESCO publication “Creating Inclusive Cities through Sport,” created in collaboration with ACES and highlighting the power of the global ACES network.