2017 Bike4sdgs: One Road, Common Goals

2017 BIKE4SDGs: One Road, Common Goals

Date: 26 August 2017

Venue: Augustów Canal, Dambrouka floodgate lock, Hrodna rayon

Continuing the successful Bike4SDGs carried out last year, UNDP and the UN Department of Public Information propose to organize a similar event to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the Hrodna Oblast Executive Committee and other partners this year. In September 2016 500+ cyclists from 35 countries, including 86 people with disabilities, began the ride attempting 22 km bike course and 8 km waterway through the Naliboksky State Landscape and Hydrology Reserve in the Valozhyn rayon.

This year it is expected to hold this flagship initiative in conjunction with the Folk-Art Festival “The Augustów Canal in the Culture of Three Nations” to be held at Drambouka, the Augustów Canal, Hrodna rayon on 26th August 2017.

Bike4SDGs brings different groups of people together to demonstrate Belarus’ commitment to achieving the SDGs. Thus, Goal #10 “Reduced Inequalities” and Goal #9 “Innovation and Infrastructure” will be emphasized through a barrier free event providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in the ride. Goal #15 “Life on Land,” Goal #13 “Climate Action” and Goal #11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities will be promoted through ecofriendly transportation and appreciation of the environment. Goal #3 “Good Health” is a critical element of the initiative with a focus on sports and a healthy lifestyle. 2017 is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism and we hope that attracting riders from around the world to Hrodna we will be able to build on several years of UNDP’s projects to promote ecotourism in the region, thus linking the event to Goal #8 “Good Jobs and Economic Growth.” By bringing together a number of international partners working for sustainable development in Belarus Goal #17 “Partnership for the Goals” is finally the main objective of Bike4SDGs.

While equality, environmental protection, good health, well-being and partnership are the prior focus areas of Bike4SDGs, this year the event is tailored to achieve the following objectives:

Demonstrate and promote ecotourism potential of the Hrodna Oblast.
Strengthen cross-sectorial cooperation between local authorities, national ministries, the UN agencies in Belarus, diplomatic corps, private sector, public organisations and media around successful achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Belarus.
Promote healthy lifestyles and well-being.
Ensure wide media coverage of the event to inform and build engagement of all stakeholders in the implementation of the Global Goals and targets in Belarus.

Bike4SDGs 2017 is designed as a massive partnership sportive that features 17 km long bike route and 8 km canoe water course along the Augustów Canal. Both routes offer scenic views of the beautiful Belarusian nature, tranquil rural landscapes and are friendly for people with disabilities, as well as the most relaxed of participants to be engaged. Participants are free to choose different distances that suit various levels of abilities and enjoy refreshment stops that placed in between the sections. Completing, not competing, is the name of the ride. We expect 400+cyclists from Belarus, Poland, Lithuania, and other countries to join us on the trail.

After completing their routes the participants are welcome to visit the UNDP projects expo grounds that showcase some of the ways in which international organisations, government, civil society and the private sector support progress on the SDGs through various local initiatives on environmental protection, healthy lifestyle promotion, local entrepreneurship and rural development.

Apart from the sportive and the exhibition of the projects, Bike4SDGs 2017 offers to take a journey through a collection of films screened outdoors in the framework of the Open Summer Film Festival: Global Goal # 17: Partnership for Sustainable Development. The Festival is themed around partnership and sustainable development and opens on 26th August 2017. Screening locations on the Augustów Canal and around the City of Hrodna will be opened to wide audiences to watch the films, experience global issues and get better understanding of the global challenges the world is facing today. The Open Summer Film Festival is a partnership initiative of the UN Department of Public Information, the United Nations Development Program, and the Hrodna Oblast Executive Committee.

Following the main events of 2017 Bike4SDGs, a few cyclists (expected to be no more than 10) will cycle through Hrodna oblast to Minsk, covering around 500 km over approximately one week. The initiative is aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, raising awareness on disability and promoting eco-tourism. This ride will also invite cyclists to discover panoramic views of rural Belarus and visit UNDP project sites, interact with local communities and explore the national culture.

The event’s partners:

The UN Department of Public Information, the Hrodna Oblast Executive Committee, national ministries, Lithuanian and Polish partners, Velo Hrodna, Minsk Bike Society.