Established in May 2020, Global Sports Heritage Association GSHA (GSHA – /’ɡeeʃə/) is a non-profit organization with the mission to promote sporting culture, history and heritage in various sport fields, across generations, and around the globe, with equal emphasis on recreational sports and physical activities.
GSHA acknowledges that physical education, physical activity and sport all form part of humanity’s non-tangible heritage which include dance, recreational, organized, competitive, casual, traditional and indigenous sports and games.
“As a part of our founding principle, GSHA honors UNESCO’s International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport which is a rights-based reference that orients and supports policy- and decision-making in all aspects of sport.
We do so by advocating for our partners and audiences to commit to the Charter so that its principles can become a reality for all human beings, especially as it relates to cultural norms and practices, and future sports heritage.
GSHA’s contribution to the UNESCO Charter is therefore grounded in the belief that advocating for an appreciation of sports heritage gives stakeholders a better understanding of their place in contemporary society. We believe that promoting sports heritage may be regarded as an added tool for cultivating the ability to make informed, strategic decisions toward balancing and optimizing the impact of policy options and priorities at different levels.
GSHA is committed to the idea that diversity of physical education, physical activity and sport is a basic feature of their non-tangible value as well as their regional & appeal. Traditional and indigenous games, dances and sports, in their modern and emerging forms, express humanity’s wealth of cultural heritage which must be preserved, researched, promoted, and celebrated.
GSHA strongly promotes inclusive access to sport, and for developing an appreciation for sports heritage by all without any form of discrimination. We are particularly keen to serve as a platform to promote gender equality in all aspects of sports, their histories and future practices.
We aim to highlight historical precedence in various fields of sports and physical activity to professional as well as amateur athletes, referees, public authorities, sports organizations, owners of sports-related rights, the media, non-governmental organizations, administrators, educators, sports-lovers and other stakeholders.
GHSA urges everyone — culture, heritage and art organizations, sports organizations, non-governmental entities, the business community, the media, educators, researchers, sport professionals and volunteers, participants and their support personnel, referees, families, as well as spectators — to commit to UNESCO’s International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport.”