A/HRC/27/58 I. Mandate on promoting human rights through sport and the Olympic ideal 1. In its resolution 24/1, the Human Rights Council requested the Advisory Committee to prepare a study on the possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote human rights for all and to strengthen universal respect for them, bearing in mind both the value of relevant principles enshrined in the Olympic Charter and the value of good sporting example, and to present a progress report thereon to the Council before its twentyseventh session. 2. Also in that resolution, the Council requested the Committee to seek the views and input of States Members of the United Nations, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. 3. The Advisory Committee designated, at its twelfth session, in February 2014 a drafting group1 to be in charge of the preparation of the study. The drafting group submitted a draft progress report to the Committee before its thirteenth session, with a view to its being submitted it to the Council in September 2014. 4. In accordance with Council resolution 24/1, the drafting group prepared a questionnaire, which was sent in March 2014 to all Member States, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. As of August 2014, responses had been received from 22 States (Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Guatemala, Mauritania, Myanmar, Peru, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Tunisia), 5 national human rights institutions, 8 non-governmental organizations and civil society representatives, an international organization and a special procedure mandate-holder. The Committee intends to seek further contributions on the issue and to send a reminder to those who have not yet responded. II. General outline of the study A. Introduction and objectives 5. The purpose of the present study is to help stakeholders assess the general factors relating to modern human rights policy in sport and provide some insights for its development and improvement in a coherent, comprehensive and systematic manner. Widening the possibilities of using sport and the Olympic ideal to promote and to strengthen universal respect for human rights for all requires sustained efforts based on the following considerations. 6. Sport plays a significant role and represents an expanding portion of among human activity. It stand for a strong will to overcome the limitations of human abilities, a desire for self-realization aimed at cultivating our fullest potential, and a way of learning to communicate and achieve harmony through fair play. 1 The drafting group is composed of Mr. Al Faihani, Mr. Coriolano, Mr. Lebedev (Rapporteur) and Mr. Zhang. 3