---
title: 'D-8 Secretary-General Emphasizes Sport’s Role in Empowering Youth and Women'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/d-8-secretary-general-emphasizes-sports-role-empowering-youth-women/'
author: 'Farkhund Yousafzai'
date: '2026-04-06T11:51:30+05:00'
categories:
  - 'Sports'
---

# D-8 Secretary-General Emphasizes Sport’s Role in Empowering Youth and Women

**Islamabad (TDI):** The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) was marked with a renewed emphasis on the role of sport in promoting unity, inclusion, and sustainable development across the globe.

In a statement reflecting on the occasion, the D-8 grouping highlighted how sport continues to serve as a powerful tool for social transformation, helping to build bridges between communities, encourage positive values, and support global peace efforts. The day, observed annually on April 6, was acknowledged a day later as part of ongoing commemorations.

Secretary-General of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, said in the statement on Sunday that sport serves as a powerful catalyst for social transformation and reinforces the cause of peace.

He said that across the vast D-8 geography, home to 1.28 billion people — including over 650 million youth — sports bring countries and communities together, empower women and youth, and form a strong cultural bridge.

The D-8 boasts of a diverse athletics and sports landscape, with D-8 nations actively engaged in football (soccer), cricket, squash, hockey, badminton, basketball, and volleyball as well as wrestling and martial arts, he added.

**Read More: [D-8 Advances Trade Cooperation at 9th Supervisory Committee Meeting](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/d8-trade-cooperation-supervisory-meeting/)**

“We are proud that this year, three of our Member States — Egypt, Iran, and Türkiye — will take the global stage at the FIFA World Cup 2026, carrying the passion and shared spirit of the #D8 to this mega event. The three teams have the best wishes of the #D8 family for outstanding performance”, the Secretary General said.

**Read More: [D-8 Secretary-General Participates in Stratcom Summit 2026 in Istanbul](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/d8-sec-general-at-stratcom-summit-2026/)**

He added that the D-8 remains committed to deepening sports cooperation within its geography and beyond as a crucial means to promote development, strengthen people-to-people ties, and reinforce regional and international solidarity.