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MUMBAI:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations
(UN) have agreed on an expanded framework for IOC and UN co-operation.
IOC
president Jacques Rogge told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
that the IOC is committed to using sport to help further meet
the goals of UN specialised agencies around the world.
Rogge
said, "The Secretary-General and I had a very productive
meeting that focused on global issues of mutual concern.
“The IOC is aware that we can never do enough to support
humanitarian and environmental issues today. However, the
IOC is a sports organisation. We must rely on the expertise
and influence of the UN to define goals and determine how
they can best be met through sport.”
Ban and Rogge discussed IOC’s commitment to the UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) and how the IOC can use sport as a
catalyst in partnership with the UN. The IOC has identified
five development goals it believes it can help advance through
sport and with its partners. These are: eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger; promoting gender equality and empowering
women; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring
environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership
for development.
With
less than 200 days to go until Beijing 2008, the meeting included
a discussion of the positive effects the Olympic Games are
hoped to have on China’s social and economic development.
The two leaders also discussed parallels between China and
the benefits the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games brought to South
Korea’s culture and economy.
Ki-moon
says, “I am very happy and satisfied by the partnership
between the United Nations and the IOC, and the way in which
we use sport in our common efforts to promote peace, dialogue
and reconciliation. Sport is a powerful tool. Specifically
this year, we look forward to a very successful Beijing Olympic
Games, believing that Beijing 2008 can bring much spirit,
harmony, friendship, dialogue and reconciliation for the world:
a true festival. You have my full co-operation and my support”.
The
two leaders last met in October in New York City, when the
UN General Assembly adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution for
this year’s Beijing Olympic Games.
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