BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. Sports must become an
integral part of urban planning and development, Anacláudia
Rossbach, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said, Trend reports.


She made the remark at the event “Cities as playing fields,”
held as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13)
in Baku, Trend reports.


Rossbach noted that sport has the power to transform cities, and
that how cities are planned, financed, and managed directly affects
not only where people live, but also how they move around,
socialize, relax, and feel a sense of belonging to the
community.


“Housing, mobility, and public spaces are just as important for
a comfortable life in cities as are accessible opportunities for
movement, social interaction, and personal development through
sports, recreation, and play. UN-Habitat increasingly views sport
as part of urban infrastructure, linking this sector to
inclusivity, health, safety, and community well-being,” she
emphasized.


Anacláudia Rossbach noted that the growing collaboration between
the UN-Habitat and the International Olympic Committee is also
based on this approach. At the same time, she emphasized that this
process cannot be implemented solely by institutions.


According to her, various sectors — professionals, the sports
sector, urban planning experts, governments, and financial
institutions — must work together. She added that during this
session, participants should develop specific commitments and ideas
for integrating sports into cities in the future.


In conclusion, the Executive Director noted that UN-Habitat
stands ready to continue cooperating in this area as a reliable
partner.







Today, the fourth day of the WUF13 conference is taking place in
Baku.


The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.


The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.


WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.