The summit, held on 2 November 2026, brought together government representatives, sporting leaders, athletes and development partners to explore how sport can play a greater role in addressing the Commonwealth’s shared priorities. Discussions centred on strengthening partnerships and translating the potential of sport into practical actions that benefit communities across member nations.

Dr Rukare, who also serves as President of the Uganda Olympic Committee, emphasised the importance of ensuring that sport is included in broader policy and decision-making processes.

“One of my strongest convictions is that sport deserves a seat at the table when decisions are made about the future of our communities and nations,” Dr Rukare noted.

He described the summit as an important platform for bringing this ambition into conversations with leaders and partners from across the Commonwealth.

St John’s Sports Pledge Takes Centre Stage

A major highlight of the summit was the proposed St John’s Pledge on Sport for a Resilient and Prosperous Commonwealth, which seeks to establish a framework for stronger collaboration between sporting organisations, governments and other stakeholders.

The discussions were structured around three key themes: Commonwealth Moves, focusing on resilient, healthy and inclusive societies; Commonwealth Growth, exploring economic prosperity through sport; and Commonwealth Unity, highlighting the role of sport in cultural exchange, international cooperation and social cohesion.

The summit explored several priority areas, including physical activity and preventative health, youth empowerment, disability inclusion, sustainable sport hosting, sport tourism, employment opportunities, climate resilience and peacebuilding.

Dr Rukare noted that the proposed pledge provides an important starting point for advancing the sport-for-development agenda across the Commonwealth.

“The proposed St John’s Sports Pledge gives us a starting point. Now the important work begins, engaging our members, building partnerships beyond the sporting world and turning our shared ambitions into meaningful action,” he said.

Commonwealth Leaders and Sporting Personalities Contribute to Discussions

The summit featured contributions from prominent political leaders, athletes and sporting administrators.

Among the key speakers were the Honourable Dwayne George, Minister of Sports and Creative Industries of Antigua and Barbuda; Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport; and Sir Vivian Richards, cricket legend and CHOGM 2026 Special Envoy.

The athlete discussions featured Akeem Stewart, Paralympic champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist from Trinidad and Tobago, and Alphanso Cunningham, Paralympic champion from Jamaica.

Other contributors included Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Sport; Caroline Brooks of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry; the Honourable Philip Watts, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr Kishore Shallow, Minister of Tourism and Maritime Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and President of Cricket West Indies; and James Bulley, Chief Executive Officer of Trivandi.

The programme also featured perspectives from representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and other Commonwealth nations, highlighting the broad partnerships required to advance sport’s contribution to development.

Turning Dialogue into Meaningful Action

The summit concluded with discussions on translating the proposed pledge into tangible commitments, identifying common priorities, potential partnerships and practical actions that can be implemented across Commonwealth member countries.

The draft St John’s Sports Pledge is expected to undergo further consultation with Commonwealth Games Associations before being presented to governments for consideration through the Commonwealth Sport Coordination Forum.

Dr Rukare thanked all participants who contributed to the discussions, reaffirming the importance of continued engagement among Commonwealth Sport members and partners beyond the summit.

His participation at CHOGM 2026 underscores the growing recognition of sport as a strategic tool for advancing youth development, healthier communities, economic opportunities and stronger international partnerships.

For Uganda, the engagement provides an opportunity to strengthen its contribution to the Commonwealth sporting movement and promote the role of sport in national and community development.

As the Commonwealth looks ahead to the Malta 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games and the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Amdavad, India, in 2030, the proposed St John’s Sports Pledge presents an opportunity to ensure that the impact of sport extends well beyond the field of play.