The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945 with the mission to “build peace in the minds of men”. As the United Nations’ lead agency for Physical Education and Sport (PES), UNESCO provides assistance, guidance and services to governments, NGOs and experts, to consolidate and develop the increasingly diverse issues relating to sport.

In recent decades, UNESCO has committed itself to the creation of appropriate mechanisms to achieve its goals of cooperation and development. In line with this commitment UNESCO has established: -

• The International Charter on Physical Education and Sport;
• The International Convention against Doping in Sport;
• The Conference of Parties to the International Convention against Doping in Sport;
• Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport;
• The Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS);
• The Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS);
• The International Fund for Developing Physical Education and Sport (FIDEPS).