UNESCO applauds GAA's role in youth development Published duration 29 August 2014

image copyright Other image caption The GAA's Croke Park HQ will host Penn State and the University of Central Florida on Saturday

UNESCO has praised the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) for its role in youth development.

A meeting of the United Nations organisation in Dublin discussed the importance of sport to young people.

Prof Mark Brennan from Penn State University described the GAA as "a true grassroots organisation".

"It empowers, involves and invigorates not just individual young people but their families and wider communities," he said.

Prof Brennan, who is UNESCO chair in rural community, leadership, and youth development at Penn State, said other countries could learn from the GAA's model.

Thursday's meeting at the GAA's Croke Park headquarters agreed a declaration for "all youth worldwide to receive the attention needed for them to be empowered to take ownership for their lives and development of their societies".