Vatican: Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani addressed delegates at the Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference – the first global conference on faith and sport, held by the Vatican in conjunction with the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee.
The conference was hosted by Pope Francis, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The conference held at the Vatican City saw the participation of over 150 world leaders in a discussion on how sport and faith working together can improve and enhance the lives of those who need it the most in different walks of life. Nita Ambani was the only representative from India at the Conference.
Addressing the delegates, Nita Ambani spoke about the impact of sport on society and its ability to transcend differences. She also shared relevant case studies from the Reliance Foundation’s many youth focussed sports programmes, highlighting the transformational power of sport, not just for an individual but also for their community, country and the world.
“Sport, I have observed over the years, has an ability to bring people together irrespective of their geography, ethnicity, religion or circumstance. Magical things happen on sports fields – smiles and friendships bloom over wins and losses,” she added.
Nita Ambani is actively involved in promoting multiple sports in India through a number of large-scale grassroots initiatives, with focus on developing young talent. She has initiated and singularly driven initiatives like Education for All (EFA), Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) and the Reliance Foundation Junior NBA programme, which have together impacted the lives of more than 5.5 million children across multiple sports.
“There is a strong connection today between Faith and Sport, not just as players and spectators but across the entire community. I have seen people from different religions, people who speak different languages, of all age groups come together in support of a single team player. This is the extraordinary ability that sport has, to multiply the power of faith, to create human bonding, and foster positive change. I had a very enriching and insightful exchange of thoughts at the Conference, seeding some very tangible ideas which I hope to implement, going forward,” she said.
Nita Ambani was recently elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). She is the first Indian woman representative and currently the only representative from India in the IOC.
The goal of the Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference is to create a place where thought leaders from sports, business, politics, academia, media and different religious faiths can discuss how Faith and Sport can work together to better serve humanity.
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