Sports Ministers, athletes and officials within sport from all over the world are due to take part in MINEPS VII conference in Baku ©MINEPS VII

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet and French basketball legend Tony Parker are set to speak at the seventh edition of the International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VII) here.

The duo are poised to deliver video messages at the Global Sports Conference that will see Sports Ministers, athletes and officials within sport from all over the world gather in the Azerbaijani capital to discuss a series of topics.

It will be the first time they have come together for the event organised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since the MINEPS VI in Russian city Kazan six years ago.

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons is also down to speak at MINEPS VII scheduled to start tomorrow and conclude onThursday (June 29).

MINEPS VII is being staged with the aim of improving sports practices, ensuring quality physical education and emphasising the positive impact of sport on health, society and the economy.

For the first time, the conference will be preceded by a multistakeholder forum over the next two days.

French basketball legend Tony Parker, who was tipped to become the country's Sports Minister last year before Amélie Oudéa-Castéra was appointed, is due to speak in the form of a video message to the conference in Baku ©Getty Images
French basketball legend Tony Parker, who was tipped to become the country's Sports Minister last year before Amélie Oudéa-Castéra was appointed, is due to speak in the form of a video message to the conference in Baku ©Getty Images

The forum is set to open tomorrow with three roundtables discussing the topics of gender equality, priorities Africa and youth empowerment.

Azerbaijan's Sports Minister Farid Gayibov is due to give an opening speech along with Gabriela Ramos, assistant director general for the social and human sciences of UNESCO.

Data to drive investments and the social and environmental impact of major sporting events are planned to be the two roundtable topics on the second day of the forum.

UNESCO is developing "Fit for Life" - a new activity that aims to support hosts and Organising Committees of major sporting events to develop, harmonise and cross-promote legacy plans that boost social and environmental sustainability.

The official opening of MINEPS VII is scheduled to take place on Tuesday (June 27) when Ministers and high-profile individuals in sport are due to take to the floor to showcase the power of sport for better social outcomes.

Parker, a four-time National Basketball Association champion for San Antonio Spurs and a 2013 EuroBasket gold-medallist for France, is among the keynote speakers that are expected to address delegates.

The morning of Wednesday (June 28) is set to focus on the national and international implementation of Fit for Life with Parsons poised to give a speech.

Ministers from the Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia are among those that are set to speak as part of the discussion entitled "Protecting the Integrity of Sport and the Wellbeing of Participants".

The conference is expected to culminate with the adoption of the "Fit for Life Alliance", as well as pledges by members.

Alongside the conference, MINEPS VII is due to feature a variety of events, including an esports lab to understand the world of video gaming, a new initiative in France to do 30 minutes of physical activity and a session for athletes focusing on unlocking the potential of grassroots sports.

A new handbook, entitled Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport is also set to be launched by UNESCO and United Nations Women.