A/79/299 levels of performance in their practice, equal conditions should allow everyone to develop their full potential. 1. Socioeconomic inequalities and discrimination based on economic status 59. Poverty plays a powerful role in limiting people’s access to sports, including competitive sports. The costs of ensuring adequate nutrition, regular coaching, quality equipment, access to facilities and, in some cases, travel make it difficult for pers ons with low income, including youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, to participate in sports, develop their full potential and talent, and, eventually, have the opportunity to excel. 60. The contributions received from States demonstrate the challenges: Guatemala notes that economic constraints lead to difficulties in accessing sports teams, qualified coaches and athletic development programmes. 36 El Salvador sees the high costs of membership fees, equipment, uniforms and travel as reasons for unequal participation in sports. 37 A review of high-income countries found that the rising cost of sports participation has reduced participation in sports, particularly among children. 38 61. For persons living in poverty, the time available for sports practice may also be limited due to the need to prioritize securing either an income or basic commodities such as food, water, medicine and shelter. In many contexts, children from poor families often have to work to support their households, leaving little time for sports and recreational activities. Children from low-income families are less likely to participate in extracurricular sports activities due to the need to prioritize academic work or family responsibilities. 62. Areas where people with low income live often receive less investment from public authorities; as a result, sporting facilities and equipment are lacking or of poor quality. El Salvador, Guatemala and Iraq note in their contributions that a lack of adequate and accessible sports facilities, particularly in rural areas and marginalized communities, limits people’s participation in sports. 39 In sub-Saharan Africa, a report found that only 29 per cent of schools had access to sports facilities, with rural areas being the most underserved. 40 In India, a study showed that only 4 per cent of the Government’s sports budget was allocated to grass-roots and community-level sports programmes. 41 In many low-income neighbourhoods in Brazil, such as favelas, young people’s participation in sports is hindered by a severe lack of public sports facilities and safe spaces, such as playing fields and gymnasiums, for children and youth to play in. 42 For States under international sanctions, the high costs of sports equipment as a result of such sanctions are cited as a limiting factor in ensuring that everyone has access. 43 __________________ 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 24-14354 Contribution of Guatemala. Contribution of El Salvador. Katherine B. Owen and others, “Fair play? Participation equity in organised sport and physical activity among children and adolescents in high income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis”, in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity , vol. 19, No. 27 (March 2022). Contributions of El Salvador, Guatemala and Iraq. United Nations Children’s Fund, The State of the World’s Children 2019: Children, Food and Nutrition – Growing Well in a Changing World (New York, 2019). Joanne Clark and Sarthak Mondal, “Sports participation in India: challenges and opportunities”, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, vol. 14, No. 4 (September 2022), pp. 729– 741. Marcelo Carvalho Vieira and others, “An analysis of the suitability of public spaces to physical activity practice in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil”, Preventive Medicine, vol. 57, No. 3 (September 2013), pp. 198–200. Contributions of Cuba and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 15/24