Bhubaneswar, 24 March 2026 – UNESCO, with Sports and Society Accelerator (SSA), Victoria University, Melbourne, and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), launched the Sport and Physical Activity (SAPA) Impact Framework for India, a structured tool developed with the participation of more than 2,000 learners from eight states across India.
Intended for stakeholders who use SAPA as a scalable development tool, the SAPA Impact Framework for India is a contextualized, user-friendly tool that defines four domains of impact:
- Health and Well-being
- Education and Lifelong Learning
- Livelihoods and Economic Growth
- Equality and Social Inclusion
Piloted using a mixed-methods research design, the findings indicate that regular participation in SAPA can enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being, and positively affect classroom engagement and the development of transferable skills.
- 93% said sport helped them set and achieve goals
- 91% reported improved focus and concentration
- 91% said sport developed skills valuable for their future
- 90% said it increased their physical health and energy
- 90% said it helped them build good relationships with others
Sport gave me three Cs- confidence, critical thinking, and cultural competence – it taught me how to engage with people from different nationalities, understand different perspectives, and hold my own in spaces I had never imagined entering.
C.A. Bhavani DeviIndia’s first Sabre Fencer to qualify for the Olympics & Arjuna Awardee, Second-Highest Sporting Honour of the Republic of India
Gathered from participants aged 11 and above, the data also highlights perspectives on social norms – like gender. Only 58% of respondents said they had tried new things despite gender stereotypes, and the same proportion said they spoke up when they witnessed discrimination.
The translation of surveys into five languages, together with more than 80 qualitative interviews, captured the breadth of India’s diversity and complexity, reflecting the views of students, parents, teachers and community members across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The development of the framework was envisioned as a collaborative and iterative process, shaped through a multi-stakeholder approach that brought together researchers, practitioners, government representatives and other actors from the fraternity of sport – a collaborative spirit that was also reflected during the launch ceremony.
Sport at KIIT & KISS goes far beyond winning medals; it builds confidence, discipline and opportunities for young people from underserved communities. The SAPA Impact Framework helps us better understand and demonstrate how sport can transform lives and contribute to broader social development.
Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit SinghVice Chancellor (Acting), KISS Deemed to be University
The framework was presented as a work in progress, with the pilot phase serving as an important first step to test its relevance and usability. Mr. Abhishek Anand, Head of the SAPA Centre at SSA, outlined the call to action and next steps, noting that the Centre will lead the implementation of the report’s insights through a policy-to-practice approach.
The framework is open for organisations to adapt, strengthen measurement practices, advocate for sustained investment, and work toward broader system-wide adoption. Ongoing engagement with funders and related sectors will be essential as the framework continues to develop.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-publishes-new-study-measure-social-impact-sport?hub=701
