Every child has a right to play

All Olympians start out as children

What is common among our Olympians today? They start out as children who are given a chance to play a sport they love. 

Watch the video below to see how sport can give children a great start in life. 

The power of sport

Support from donors is helping protect children’s right to play, with many benefits. Sport helps with their development, improves their concentration, memory and language, as well as fine motor skills and social and emotional skills. 

It also helps children to improve their academic learning. And prepare them for the future by developing their critical thinking, problem solving and risk-taking.

Most of all, it benefits mental health and contributes to wellbeing. In conflict or disaster situations, it provides opportunities to process, cope with and recover, helping children regain a sense of normalcy. Just like 11-year-old Lujain.^*

Lujain loves playing football with friends in the displacement camp where her family lives after fleeing from conflict.
Photo: Kahlil Alachawi / Save the Children.

Most of all, sport is fun

From Nepal to Guatemala, South Sudan, Syria and all around the world, children can’t get enough of the fun they have while playing. Here’s what they have to say ....

With help from our community of supporters, children around the world can grow, develop and play – as all kids should.

^*Names have been changed to protect identities.