Vatican to host first international seminar on sport

The first international seminar on sport, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, is due to be held in Rome today and Saturday. The meeting - the theme of which is "the Christian mission in the field of sport today" - will bring together 50 people from 18 countries, experts in many areas within the world of sport. The program of the seminar includes an analysis of the global phenomenon of sport, together with its anthropological, cultural, educational and ethical repercussions within contemporary society. Consideration will also be given to the various fields of opportunity that the world of sport can offer the Church in the realisation of her pastoral mission, especially among the young. The seminar will conclude with the presentation of the future goals of the section "Church and Sport," founded by John Paul II in 2004 as part of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. In this context, one of the aims of the seminar is to gather a group of persons who have expertise in various fields of sport (scholars, directors of Catholic sporting associations, representatives from national bishops' conferences, professional athletes, etc.) who can contribute to the new section. Source: MISNA