World Fair Play Day is the brainchild of Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles, which since 2013 has been organising a week of Fair-Play activities in September, including the Relay du Fair-Play. In 2020, Panathlon International (P.I.), the International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) and the European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) joined forces to create the World Fair-Play Day.

The date of 7 September was not chosen at random by PWB. It was on this day in 1963 that the founding members of what was to become the International Committee for Fair Play (CIFP) met at the initiative of French tennis champion Jean Borotra. The International Olympic Committee subsequently endorsed the CIFP as a defender of the values of the Olympic Charter.

Panathlon Wallonie-Bruxelles welcomes this recognition of fair play by the United Nations General Assembly, confirming the relevance and importance of this concept, which is the Spirit of Sport. It should be noted that this initiative with the United Nations was supported by Hungary, the country from which CIFP President Jenö Kamuti originates.

The World Fair Play Day is a sports initiative designed to promote fair play and Ethical Values in sport. Everyone in sport both on and off the pitch is invited to highlight fair play initiatives, projects and successes every year on this date. On the 7th September 2020, the first global World Fair Play Day will be inaugurated in Brussels with both formal signings and local sports activities and events.