Dhaka – Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, expressed his support for the Paris 2024 Olympics on Saturday, highlighting its innovative approach to integrating social responsibility with major sporting events.
Yunus, an esteemed Nobel laureate renowned for his work in social business and microcredit, praised the Paris Olympics for its commitment to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
In his remarks at the third Voice of Global South Summit, which was conducted virtually and hosted by India, Yunus underscored the significance of using the power of sports for social good. His endorsement comes in light of the Paris Olympics’ groundbreaking initiatives aimed at ensuring that the Games are conducted with a responsible and sustainable mindset.
The Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside its partners, has pledged to transform the traditional model of sports events by integrating comprehensive social and environmental considerations into the planning and execution of the Games.
This commitment was formalized on June 19, 2019, when Paris 2024 signed a social charter with trade unions and employer organizations. This agreement marks a pioneering step in the history of major sporting events, setting a new standard for how such events can contribute positively to society.
Yunus emphasized that the Paris Olympics represents a “social business Olympics” model, a concept he has championed throughout his career.
Social business, according to Yunus, refers to a non-dividend company focused on addressing societal issues such as healthcare, education, sanitation, water pollution, unemployment, and environmental degradation. This approach aligns closely with the ethos of the Paris 2024 Games, which aim to leverage the global platform of the Olympics to address pressing social challenges.
The initiative by Paris 2024 has garnered significant attention for its potential to redefine the role of sports events in fostering social progress.
By partnering with the Yunus Centre and Les Canaux, a not-for-profit organization that supports innovative, socially-oriented companies, Paris 2024 is positioning itself as a leader in responsible event management. This collaboration underscores a commitment to creating lasting positive impacts beyond the scope of the Games themselves.
He remarked, “Paris Olympics was designed as a social business Olympics. As the Global South, we can work together to unleash the social power of sports.” Yunus’s vision of integrating social responsibility into the framework of major events reflects his broader efforts to address social issues through innovative business models.
The Paris 2024 Games, through its partnerships and social charter, aims to set a precedent for future international sporting events. The focus on sustainability and social impact represents a significant shift in how such events are conceived and managed, aligning with Yunus’s vision of using economic tools to address social problems.
As the world looks forward to the Paris Olympics, the emphasis on social responsibility and sustainability is expected to influence how future events are planned and executed. The collaboration between Paris 2024, the Yunus Centre, and Les Canaux highlights a growing recognition of the need to integrate social values into major global initiatives.
Muhammad Yunus’s support for the Paris 2024 Olympics underscores the potential for sports to drive meaningful social change. By adopting a social business approach, the Paris Games are setting a new standard for how international events can contribute to addressing some of the world’s most pressing social issues.
odri