Sports Ministers and senior officials from 43 Commonwealth nations met at the Sixth Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting 25 July 2012 in London. Click on photo for enlargement. (Photo courtesy of Bahamas High Commission in London)

Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Daniel Johnson met with Sports Ministers and senior officials from 43 Commonwealth nations in London on July 25 for the sixth Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics for the UK.

During the meeting, the delegates strongly endorsed a set of guidelines that will assist governments to strengthen sport development and incorporate sport-based activities into development programmes.

The framework, which was developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, provides guidance on integrating sport in development areas including health, education and peace building.

Among other things, the framework promotes the inclusion of women and girls, marginalized communities and people with disabilities.

Ministers also agreed to collaborate on drafting another set of guidelines focused on governance in sport, and asked the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport to work with member governments on integrity issues, including illegal sports betting and match fixing.

Delegates also received an update on preparations for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which is when they will meet again in the host city of Glasgow, Scotland.

Timothy Munnings (left), director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture at the Sixth Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting 25 July in London. (Photo courtesy of Bahamas High Commission in London)

Daniel Johnson (left),Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture and Hugh Robertson, UK Minister for Sport and the Olympics, at the Sixth Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting 25 July in London. (Photo courtesy of Bahamas High Commission in London)