CIGEPS WG Reports:The Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) promotes the role and value of sport and its relevance for public policy established in 1978.Through CIGEPS, UNESCO has a unique ability to drive government action in the field of sport and physical education and sport policies and programs around the world. CIGEPS WG “Sport and Culture” were invited by IATWS into its Green Festivals series to debate and make the policy for establishing the international platform on TSG in lieu of the mandate given by MINEPS round table conferences as well as the1st Collective Consultation Meeting held on 13 March 2006 at UNESCO Headquarters Paris-France aimed at creating an International Platform for the promotion and development of Traditional Sports and Games.CIGEPS WG met at the sideline of Ministerial Round Table “Promotion and Development of Traditional Sports and Games (TSG) on 10 October 2007 at Ufa-Bashkortostan-Russia. “To guarantee the success of initiatives and actions aimed at ensuring the promotion, development and preservation of traditional games and sports, new provisions were adopted by two ministerial conferences (MINEPS) held by UNESCO in, respectively, Uruguay (1999) and Greece (2004). The Conferences advocated specific, practical actions and initiatives to move forward on the challenges that the ministers and senior officials responsible for physical education and sport had deemed essential.“The General Conference,Recalling the International Charter of Physical Education and Sport, the 2003 Round Table of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport and the provisions of the Statutes of the intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport(CIGEPS),Considering that traditional games and sports from a significant part of the cultural heritage which should be promoted ,particularly with a view to improving the quality of physical education and sport in education systems,Recognizing that traditional games and sport form a significant part of the cultural heritage,in particular, part of the intangible cultural heritage of societies,Acknowledging the results and recommendations of the Fourth International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical education and sports (MINEPS IV),Taking note of 172 EX/Decision 6,1.    Expresses its gratitude to CIGEPS for the initiative with regard to the elaboration of the draft charter, attached for the information as Annex II to document 33 C/59;2.    Invites Member States to find appropriate mechanisms for sharing information about traditional games and sports and about their efforts to preserve and protect them.’ To follow up the resolution, two types of actions were being implemented by the UNESCO Secretariat with, among others, the support of key partners such as the international Association of Traditional Wrestling Sports (IATWS). One of the specific results has been the collective consultation held by UNESCO in March 2006 with a view to proposing an international platform for the development and promotion of traditional games and sports. It has also been proposed to consolidate this important  stage by holding a follow-up to it in Kazakhstan from 4 to 6 November 2006 on the occasion of the World Festival of Traditional Wrestling Sports. The other result is holding of a Rouns Table of Ministers for the orientation and approval of policy implementation of the strategy for the promotion and development of traditional sports and games.CIGEPS WG along with multi stakeholders who were invited and sponsored by IATWS adopted the recommendation and action plan approved by the Round Table Ministerial Conference.CIGEPS meeting was held on 29-31 January 2008 at UNESCO Headquarters-Paris.“ The international Association of Traditional Wrestling Sports briefed participants on its goals and activities. The association cooperates with UNESCO in the promotion of traditional games and sports. It supports the Organization through direct and indirect extrabudgetary resources in connection with various regional and international initiatives. It proposed that UNESCO initiate a new concept for the action called “Play for Peace” which would be discussed with the secretariat.CIGEPS WG on Sport and Culture again met on 5th April 200 at Moscow on the invitation and fully sponsorship of IATWS.The participants unanimously declared that:The Working Group,-Expressess its gratitude to the Russian Government for the hospitality-Thanks the IATWS for the initiative.-Recognizing the importance of Sport and Culture-Encourages the other working groups to hold this kind of meetingThe Secretariat is ready to help the member states to develop their national policy on TSG. A request must come from the countries authorities.A grant is to be given to best researchers or students on TSG, the Working group on TSG agreed to the jury.Recommendations: The Working group is inviting member states and NGOs and CCP members to designate IATWS to lead the forthcoming international Council on TSG(Gabon) Information must be sent to the CIGEPS working group for the participation of Member States on the meeting aiming at creating the International Council on TSG.(Greece) the working group must be present at the collective consultation on TSG. This meeting must take into account the status of CIGEPS. CIGEPS must be present. CIGEPS must give its approval through its president(at the very least). In the composition of the International Council on Traditional Sports and Games, the working group must be implicated.Promotion of TSG through media: (Iran) Media must be used as a point to promote TSG. The working group on sport and culture must put emphasis on media to promote TSG(Gabon) Instead of developing new concept like sport and tourism it will be more useful to think about how the member states can think about the  Convention on culture diversity which does not mention “sport” in its international convention on cultural expressions.The Working group can propose this to the inter-sectorial platform (SHS and CL) (Iran) looking at Tourism is in Culture sector,less put emphasis on the importance to develop this project with WTO(World Tourism Organization). Also, in this field SHS and the Culture sector must work together to prepare a common project.It was further agreed to have next meeting on 06-088 June at Ukraine and 19-21 September at Bussan-Korea.From 6-9 June 2008, a three day workshop was organized by IATWS  by inviting CIGEPS WG & UNESCO Secretariat. The purpose of the workshop was to promote dialogue concerning the linkages between health,sport and the environment. The activities opened on 6 June with a scientific conference,during which a tree planting ceremony took place to contribute to the rnvirnomental proragmme for the city of Mariupol and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Azovmash Corporation. The proceeding resumed with the CIGEPS “sport and Culture” working group meetings,discussing issues on the traditional sports and games(TSG).As part of the Green Festival ,a fun run’ took place in which 700 indiviguals of all ages groups participated,as well as a second tree planting event, in which participants planted 230 trees in celebration of 230 years of Ukraine. Additional events including the opening ceremony of the 2nd European Green Festival belt wrestling championship in which 23 countries and 160 participants were present.A prior gathering between experts,from different NGOs working in the field of TSG,took place in Istanbul in May 2008. This occasion facilitated the creation of the new” International Council on TSG” .(Ref: Annex III,Publication on the TSG Network and Applications for the Scholarship and Research Grants by UNESCO).UNESCO promoted the fundamental values of sport,education and culture at the 6th World Forum on sport,education and culture in Busan-Korea from 25-27 September 2008.On 27 September 2008, during the CIGEPS working group meeting. It was suggested that UNESCO launched an international council for Traditional Sports and Games. In addition to this, UNESCO was invited to initiate an official UN “Traditional Sports and Games Day”. And publish a leaflet on the definition of Traditional Sports and Games.In parallel with this, CIGEPS members reaffirmed, during the Round Table on 27 September, that the promotion of TSG requires an international fund in order to assist the preservation and promotion of sport as part of intangible cultural heritage. It was suggested by the participants that UNESCO’s International Charter on physical education and sport be amended to include the promotion of TSG.(Ref: Annex-IV : Publication on the TSG Network and Applications for the Scholarship and Research Grants by UNESCO).UNESCO-Collective Consultation on TSG Iran,16-20 January 2009 (Final Report: Ref: CIGEPS/09/REF/Report-TSG/Collective Consultation/Iran/ENG)A Collective Consultation on the promotion of Traditional Games and Sports (TSG) was held in Tehran,Iran from 16th to 20th January 2009. This meeting gathered 22 high level experts on TSG from all over the world, as well as bringing together national Iranian experts.A pilot phase of activities focusing on cooperation with NGOs is underway, with the support of the International Association of Traditional Wrestling Sports (IATWS) and UNESCO, to create an International Network on TSG.The purpose of the meeting held in Iran, is to define the possibility of establishing a body, which will provide a platform and function as an”umbrella body”, advising UNESCO in the area of TSG in order to maximise the added -value of joint efforts.After long discussions involving the CIGEPS Working Group on “Sports and Culture”, NGOs and the Secretariat, the UNESCO office of the Legal Affairs recommended the creation of an Advisory Committee on TSG.The participants of the Collective Consultation on TSG, held in Iran, adopted the statutes of the forthcoming Advisory Committee, proposed a provisional bureau; and a group of experts,pending the official nomination by the Director General and after the Statutes receive the approval of the Executive Board.The Members of the provisional bureau are as follows:President: Mr.Rif Gaynanov : RussiaVice President: Mr.Hesam Mohammad Hadi : IranSecretary General: Mr.Khalil Ahmed Khan: PakistanFive Group of experts be announced to help the bureau. An official definition of Traditional Sports and Games was approved after a long debate on the issue.“Traditional games are leisure and recreation activities which can have a ritualistic character. They are part of a diverse universal heritage. They are practiced in an individual or collective manner. Driving from regional or local identity, they are based on rules accepted by a group that organizes the competitive or non-competitive activities. Traditional games are popular both in their organization, but if turned into sport tend to be standardized and institutionalized. The practice of traditional games promotes global health.” ( Ref: Annex I: CIGEPS/09/REF/Report-TSG/Iran).  Recommendations:The participants of the meeting recommend that there should be sufficient women representation in the advisory committee. It was further recommended that the Advisory Committee should have more opportunities to cooperate with NGOs and other stakeholders. As it was proposed during the meeting, the participants have recommended a formal connection between CIGEPS and the Advisory Committee. It was also recommended that the new Advisory Committee should be transparent and prioritize an information haring policy.The participants have recommended that statutes must be amended by creating three more seats for CIGEPS representatives without the right of vote.