Mexico City, 7 April – “Sport changed my life, it helped me quit drugs, and it’s going to help me once I’m released.”
The sport of choice for this prisoner from Morelos, Mexico, is boxing. “It requires responsibility and effort. It’s taught me to change and to see life differently,” he added.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a National Boxing Class, organized by the Government of Mexico through the National Direction of Sports Promotion and Wellness at the Ministry of Public Education on 6 April, International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
Together with the Red Viral, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) facilitated the participation of 18,494 prisoners across 29 states to join the “Boxing for Peace” class.
Eunice Rendón Cárdenas, Coordinator of Red Viral, added: “For people who are incarcerated, boxing has proven to be an effective path to transformation, promoting discipline, respect and teamwork. This sport is key to achieving successful reintegration and building safer, more supportive communities.”
“I’m really happy. I never imagined that practicing a sport while in here would give me the chance to take part in something at the national level with my fellow inmates. I’m proud to be part of this movement,” said one prisoner in Tabasco.
Another prisoner from Tamaulipas agreed. “Sport helps us stay away from addiction and lead healthier lives. I encourage everyone, especially young people, to take up sports; it’s the best thing out there.”
This nationwide boxing session marked the culmination of weeks of training in the penitentiary centers and also paves the way for new social reintegration initiatives.
Meanwhile, in Mexico City, UNODC joined more than 42,000 people gathered in the Zócalo to highlight the importance of sports in steering youth away from violence and drug use, including fentanyl.
Representing UN Mexico, Mr. Kristian Hölge, UNODC Mexico Representative, joined the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, in the Zócalo, along with the Head of Government of Mexico City, Clara Brugada Molina; the President of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Sulaimán Saldívar; the Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo; the National Director of Physical Culture and Sport, Rommel Pacheco Marrufo; and the National Director of Sport and Wellbeing Promotion, Miguel Torruco Garza.
In her opening remarks, President Sheinbaum affirmed that sport makes people freer, healthier and happier—especially youth, who are the present and future of the country.
“Mexico’s youth are saying no to violence and no to drugs. The people of Mexico say no to racism, no to classism, no to sexism. The people of Mexico say yes to education, yes to sport, yes to peace, and yes to love,” she declared.
The session was led by professional athletes, including Julio César Chávez, Oscar de la Hoya, Irma García, Roberto “Hands of Stone” Durán, Carlos Zárate, Lourdes Yoana Juárez Trejo, Jessica Nery Plata Noriega, Rubén “Spikes” Olivares, Marco Antonio Barrera and Rey Vargas.
In Mexico, UNODC implements the SC:ORE programme with the International Olympic Committee, which works to prevent and combat violence and crime through sports-based learning, mentoring support and skills training to build more peaceful and safe communities.
