The project is based on a vision that goes beyond the concept of sport as a recreational activity, employing it instead to improve public spaces, promote health and well-being, support social inclusion, empower children, adolescents, youth, women, and people with disabilities, and strengthen community cohesion, alongside building the capacities of local institutions to integrate sport and physical activity into urban development plans.
As part of the interventions scheduled to be implemented in Ghor Al-Safi, a number of sports facilities will be developed at the Zaha Cultural Center, including a running track, an outdoor gym, a beach volleyball court, and a play area dedicated to early childhood children in accordance with the Urban 95 methodology. This contributes to providing safe, open, and inclusive spaces that allow members of the local community to practice sports and physical activity, and promotes the positive use of public spaces.
Rania Subeih, Executive Director of the Zaha Cultural Center, stated that the project represents an extension of the center's role in supporting local communities and providing safe and inclusive environments. She emphasized that developing sports facilities in Ghor Al-Safi constitutes an investment in people and society, contributing to enhancing the quality of life and providing broader opportunities for practicing sports for various segments of society. She added: "Since the opening of the Zaha Cultural Center in Ghor Al-Safi in 2022, the center has been a safe and open space for community members, offering children, adolescents, youth, and women opportunities for learning, participation, and development. Today, the Sport for Sustainable Urban Development project enhances this role by investing in sport and public spaces as tools for empowerment and improving the quality of life."
Subeih stressed the importance of partnership between national and international entities in achieving sustainable impact, pointing out that the Ghor Al-Safi experience can serve as a scalable and replicable model for other regions.
For her part, Eng. Dima Abu Diab, UN-Habitat Jordan Program Manager, said: "At UN-Habitat, we believe in the importance of enhancing the role of cities and local authorities in sustainable urban development, adopting evidence-based participatory planning, and involving the community in identifying its needs and priorities. This contributes to improving the quality of life, directing resources and investments to where they achieve the greatest impact, and creating opportunities to attract qualitative and sustainable investments that support local development."
The launch ceremony included a presentation on the project in Ghor Al-Safi, alongside a review of the progress made and the preliminary results of the social and spatial assessment and analysis. It also featured a discussion on the role of sport in urban planning and developmental opportunities, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Local Administration, the Zaha Cultural Center, the Jordan Olympic Committee, UN-Habitat, the Southern Ghor Municipality, and a number of relevant entities and partners.
