Some of the Commonwealth’s sporting champions, past and present, are to take part in an initiative to inspire young people to achieve excellence. The newly established Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS) will look at ways to build on the virtues of sport to nurture talent, sharpen skills and attain goals. The 12-member group of advisers, which includes sport experts from across the Commonwealth, will meet for the first time on 7 June 2005 in Gatineau, Canada. Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon who will open the meeting says: "Sport empowers young people by teaching them about team spirit, discipline and endurance. It promotes a level playing field and offers positive role models to emulate. "Bringing together some of the best sport experts in the Commonwealth, CABOS will be able to tap into the huge potential sport represents to create new opportunities." Former West Indies cricketer Desmond Haynes and record-breaking Paralympic powerlifter Moekie Grobbelaar will help CABOS highlight the importance of sport as a tool for socio-economic development. CABOS will put forward recommendations to Commonwealth Sports Ministers on policies and programmes to encourage a healthy lifestyle and help young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop their skills and work prospects. Richard Caborn, UK Minister for Sport, the current Chair of the Commonwealth Sports Ministers, welcomed the new body: "Having chaired the Ministerial meetings, I know how much the Commonwealth has to offer to sport. There is a wealth of experience and knowledge throughout the Commonwealth, and CABOS will help member countries make the most of sport's capacity to change lives. Be it improving people's health, raising children's educational standards, youth leadership or bringing communities together - sport can do it all." Discussions will also focus on the Commonwealth's ongoing commitment to eradicate the use of drugs in sport. "If you stamp out drugs in sport, you help reduce cheating and ensure fair play. This sets young people on the right track," said the Secretary-General. The decision to establish CABOS was taken by Commonwealth leaders at their meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in December 2003. Source: the commonwealth.org