Commonwealth Sport has unveiled the St John's Sports Pledge, designed to strengthen collaboration across the Commonwealth and give sport a greater role in tackling some of society's biggest challenges.

The proposed Pledge was at the heart of the first Commonwealth Sport Summit, held alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday (2 November).

Bringing together government ministers, internationally recognised athletes and senior sporting leaders, the Summit explored how sport can contribute to healthier and more inclusive societies, economic prosperity and stronger international cooperation.

The draft Pledge outlines ten proposed commitments across three areas:

  • Resilient, healthy and inclusive societies: harnessing sport to improve population health, empower young people, advance disability inclusion and strengthen climate resilience.
  • Economic prosperity through sport: supporting sustainable event hosting, sport tourism, enterprise, employment and investment.
  • Unity, culture and international cooperation: using sport to strengthen social cohesion, celebrate cultural heritage and deepen cooperation across Commonwealth nations.

It aims to build on the momentum of the successful Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the Malta 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games and the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Amdavad in 2030 providing further opportunities to extend sport's impact across the Commonwealth.

We need to stop asking only what governments can do for sport, and start demonstrating what sport can do for governments and the people they serve.
Commonwealth Sport President Dr Donald Rukare

"Glasgow showed us the extraordinary power of sport to bring people together and deliver wider benefits. But sport cannot be front and centre in our national conversations only once every four years.

"The St John's Sports Pledge is about building a stronger, more connected sporting movement and working with governments and partners to ensure sport makes a lasting difference to more people and communities across the Commonwealth."

Sir Vivian Richards, cricket legend and Special Envoy to CHOGM 2026, said: "Sport has given me opportunities I could never have imagined growing up in Antigua. I've seen first-hand how it can inspire young people, bring communities together and give entire nations something to be proud of.

But its greatest impact isn't always measured in runs, wickets or medals. It's measured in the opportunities we create for the next generation and the difference we make to people's lives.

"That's why this Summit is so important. We have a chance to build on the extraordinary sporting connections across the Commonwealth and make sure more young people and communities benefit from the power of sport."

Honourable Dwayne George, Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Sports and Creative Industries, said: "Antigua and Barbuda is proud to have hosted the first Commonwealth Sport Summit and to see the St John's name associated with an ambition to strengthen the role of sport across our Commonwealth.

"As a small island nation, we understand the power of sport to inspire young people, bring communities together and create opportunities that extend far beyond the field of play.

"The proposed St John's Sports Pledge offers an important opportunity to build on that potential, strengthen cooperation between our nations and ensure more people and communities benefit from sport in the years ahead."

The draft Pledge will now be developed in consultation with Commonwealth Sport's member Commonwealth Games Associations before being shared for agreement by Governments through the newly established Commonwealth Sport Coordination Forum, co-chaired by India as the next host of the Commonwealth Games, and Commonwealth Sport.

The Forum will meet virtually each year between Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meetings, providing a mechanism for ongoing government engagement and reviewing progress against shared priorities.