ABSTRACT
In this introductory chapter, the editors present the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide an overview of the global conditions that necessitated them. They summarize how the SDGs were first conceptualized and ultimately adopted by the United Nations to accelerate a global effort to support people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership. Additionally, the editors identify key efforts to integrate the SDGs with sport, including through the Kazan Action Plan and by the Commonwealth. They explain several scenarios in which the SDGs could be applied to sport (and vice versa). This discussion includes a brief case study on Cape Town, South Africa, where several SDG-related challenges have converged in the past decade. The editors conclude with a preview of the handbook, the contents of which are organized into 17 sections (one per SDG), each containing a chapter overviewing the SDG, a chapter on measuring progress, and a chapter showcasing an organization that has directly engaged in implementing the SDG.
