Don Porter Speech
Sporting Goods to Go

Since Sporting Goods to Go was set up in 2003, we have only scratched the surface of what was originally undertaken by the General Association of International Sports Federations, otherwise known as GAISF, and its partner organizations. [Partners names shown on slide on screen, look briefly to screen which shows: the IOC, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association-International, World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry, United Nations agencies, Association of National Olympic Committees, major charitable organizations]. We all share one vision, to secure, ship and distribute much needed sports equipment to areas of poverty and conflict to enable people to play sport. It is a simple concept but a complex delivery.

Sporting Goods to Go began from a need in the sports marketplace:
Many of the Federations as well as the IOC, the National Olympic Committees and other oragnisations were already providing equipment to many relief agencies and direct to needy countries. However in many instances, difficulties were experienced in clearing equipment through customs due to rigid procedures and fee levying. This created problems for the final distribution of the equipment. Often hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment never reached their intended aspiring sports men and women.

SGTG was thus set up as a non-profit initiative to find solutions to this problem. We were tasked with finding ways and means of more easily accessing and distributing sports equipment to those most in need around the world – particularly young people.

In 2004, with the help of its active and enthusiastic Partners, SGTG was able to secure and distribute equipment with a market value of nearly $850,000 (U.S.) to over 120,000 recipients worldwide.

And in recent years efforts have been made to find ways to acquire and deliver even more sports equipment into countries where it is not readily accessible, due to poverty, lack of customs access and political and armed conflicts.

In addition, many of GAISF's members have internal programmes that secure and provide sports equipment that included collectively, from GAISF members, over $15 million in quality sports products and equipment. Many GAISF members have sponsored and organized community-wide sports programmes in economically underdeveloped and politically unstable countries around the world. In addition to individual Federations, since its inception, ‘’Sporting Goods To Go” has added in value over four million U.S. dollars to over 250,000 recipients worldwide. Ironically, a number of International Federations continue to have difficulty in getting competitive equipment into countries for their major or regional events, mainly due to bureaucratic procedures or outright fraud whereby the equipment is detained for long periods or is actually "lost".


Other NGO agencies and humanitarian organizations also provide support however most of their support is for more critical areas such as medical, health support and food. But it remains a fact that there is much more that needs to be done. Where there is so much misery and conflict, young people in particular need a ray of hope in their dismal lives - and that hope can be planted, nurtured and grown through sport. It is not uncommon in many countries to see equipment being shared; it is not uncommon for kids to use very old, worn equipment until it literally falls apart. That is why many Federations now provide slightly used equipment as part of our programme. Believe me, to millions of kids throughout the world, slightly used equipment is as good as new equipment.

In order to continue our work around the world, Sporting Goods to Go look to collaborate with more and more partner organisations. One such new partner is the Special Olympics, who are using their worldwide network to promote recreational and competitive sport activities for children with special needs.

Sporting Goods to Go believes that it is important to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to, and opportunities within sporting events. Disability has always existed but many of the infirmities in today’s world are the direct result of increased armed conflicts in many regions.

Sports programmes for people with disabilities serve to strengthen participants both mentally and physically. They can also promote actively the inclusion of disabled girls and women who may experience double stigmatization

To be a child with a disability in a situation of poverty, instability and discrimination places that child in an extreme position of vulnerability, But sport can be a very important tool in the reintegration of children with disabilities. And while sport can be a powerful instrument in helping overcome the marginalization and discrimination faced by disabled children, it is not simply a means to an end.

Events such as the Paralympics Games – primarily aimed at persons with physical disabilities – and the Special Olympics – dedicated to persons with mental disabilities – have a broad reach and help create role models of sportspeople who have reached the highest level of excellence in sport.

The World Olympian Association is also actively supporting SGTG, encouraging many Olympic athletes to support the work of securing and bringing sport equipment to those parts of the world that are least able to access, acquire or afford the equipment. This use of sporting role models is vital to help publicise and continue our work. Therefore it is no surprise to see that our latest initiative is right here with Peace Through Sport. His Royal Highness Prince Feisal and I launched this partnership at Sport Accord in China last month. This collective initiative could strengthen both organizations objectives.
We certainly pledge to help the leaders of youth who attend the Peace Through Sport camp here in Jordan. We aim to provide them with sports equipment back in their communities so that they can run the programmes and inspire the kids from all sides of their divided community from the start.

We have decided to support Peace Through Sport as it has so many shared values with our own organization. Central to this is a belief that sport has a way of reducing the anxiety, depression and loss of sense of purpose that many young people experience today as a direct result of the armed conflict and political instability in their region.

The recent troubles in Lebanon are a local example of where youth are having to deal with the destruction of their homes, and businesses. There are numerous examples around the world where this destruction results in disorientation along with frustration. This in turn creates a fertile ground for a rise in extreme forms of behavior. Sport has a vital role to play in channeling that frustration and giving young people a sense of direction and order.

We also believe that sport imparts values of peaceful and respectful co-existence such as team work, respect for others, tolerance and acceptance of rules. As I have traveled the world I have seen innumerable examples where sport helps with social integration through the existence of sports teams of mixed social, economic, ethnic and religious groups.  So today, working alongside our partners, SGTG is continuing its initial mission of assisting member Federations in finding solutions to their equipment acquisition and distribution problems. There is no doubt that the initiative to set up SGTG four years ago touched an important element of getting sporting equipment to those in need - the millions of boys and girls who are the future of the world sports movement and society in general.

Over three million USD in donated and self-acquired sports equipment from collective International Federations has been distributed to over 85 countries since SGTG’s inception. But, there still remains a vital need to find ways to secure even greater amounts for the development of sport and hopefully a more peaceful world.

In conclusion dear friends, the full realization of what sport can offer young people throughout the world is still relatively unexplored. Providing the necessary sports equipment and facilities and training can ensure that sport can become an achievable reality for millions who would not normally have the chance to play. Sporting Goods to Go is proud to play a small part in making this happen. Thank you for your time today.

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