Chaired by the Government of Canada, the meeting will revolve around the theme ‘Building inclusive and resilient societies through sports’. This forum will allow sports leaders to discuss critical policy areas and resolutions on sporting issues.

Taking place a day before the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 11th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting presents a prime opportunity for ministers and senior officials from across the Commonwealth to highlight the role of sports in advancing sustainable development, fostering cohesive communities, and promoting human rights.

The meeting will address various contemporary sports issues, including the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in sports, reimagining the Commonwealth Games, leveraging artificial intelligence for sports development and peace, and evaluating the role of sports in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, stated, “The benefits of governments investing in sports transcends all aspects of society. Not only does access to sports promote a healthy population, but it plays an instrumental role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

"The upcoming Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting offers our member countries a platform to share best practices in the field of sport for development and peace. It is an opportunity to find innovative ways to guarantee every one of the 2.7 billion people living in our Commonwealth benefit from the power of sports. Our priority is to continue highlighting the importance of sports policy as a means of promoting the international development agenda.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity of Canada, added, “Everyone should have the opportunity to experience sport that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive. As the first Canadian to chair a Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting, I am excited to collaborate with other countries and learn from their experiences, as we harness the power of sport to build strong and resilient societies.”

Ministers will also review recommendations from the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS), a 14-member group of sport experts and leaders. Additionally, they will hear from the Commonwealth Games Federation about their strategic priorities for the future.

The outcomes from the meeting will contribute to the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa later this year.