SUPPORT EXPRESSED FOR OLYMPIC TRUCE DURING UPCOMING GAMES

Press Release
GA/8987

SUPPORT EXPRESSED FOR OLYMPIC TRUCE DURING UPCOMING GAMES

Wide support was expressed in the General Assembly this afternoon for honouring an "Olympic truce" during the forthcoming Olympic Games as speakers stressed the importance of sport and the Olympic Ideal in building a better world.

Continuing the Assembly's consideration of a draft on the Olympic Ideal, the representative of Jamaica urged the international community not to give up hope that lasting peace could be achieved in the world; "to remember that anything is possible; that the system of apartheid has been dismantled, the Berlin Wall has fallen and that at the last Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, a tiny tropical island State which has experienced neither snow nor ice, entered the bobsleigh competition for the third time, and finished ahead of some of the veterans of the sport".

The representative of Greece said the philosophical nucleus of the ancient Greek spirit in the world athletic movement was being superseded by extreme commercialization that turned fans into hooligans, athletes into ruthless professionals and clubs into trading companies. It also seemed unable to confront the plagues of drug abuse and violence. He expressed the hope that the world in general and the International Olympic Committee in particular would acknowledge the moral debt owed to Greece by giving that country the honour of hosting the Olympic Games at the turn of the century.

The representative of Canada stressed the importance of instituting strong measures to anti-doping -- the illegal use of drugs by athletes -- including unannounced testing. He called on Member States to reinforce their mutual cooperation in international anti-doping efforts.

Particular attention was drawn to the benefits of promoting sport among the disabled. The representative of Austria said the Special Olympics gave individuals who found themselves marginalized and even humiliated by society the chance, by way of sports, to be at the centre of attention, to feel large- scale support and to become heroes.

Also this afternoon, the Acting President of the Assembly extended deepest sympathy to the Government and people of the Philippines for the

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tragic loss of life and extensive material damage which had resulted from the recent typhoon.

The representative of the Philippines said his country would like to acknowledge the expressions of sympathy for the unfortunate victims of the super typhoon "Angela" which struck the Philippines last Friday. "As we pick up the pieces and start rebuilding our lives, we take comfort in the knowledge that our friends and neighbours are with us during this time of adversity".

Other statements were made this afternoon by the representatives of Romania, Swaziland, Nepal, Portugal, Senegal, Colombia, Iraq, Japan, Guyana, Cyprus and Viet Nam.

The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 7 November, to continue its consideration of sport and the Olympic Ideal; to begin consideration of the report of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991; and to take up a draft resolution on a universal congress on the Panama Canal.

Assembly Work Programme

The Assembly met this afternoon to continue its consideration of the building of a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal. It has before it a draft resolution on the Olympic Ideal (document A/50/L.15) by which the Assembly would call upon Member States to reaffirm the observance of the Olympic truce during the XXVI Olympiad, the Centennial Games, to be held in the United States in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, from 19 July to 4 August 1996.

Statements

LIA MANOLIU (Romania) said the Romanian people, after eagerly following the Olympics in Sarajevo, had witnessed the horrifying massacres near and in the Olympic village, which was hardly a thousand kilometres from Romania. And conflicts of this nature were, unfortunately, persisting throughout the world. Therefore, it made complete sense to insist that the guns fall silent at least for the brief moment of the 16 days of the 1996 Olympics.

Romania also called on those who were in conflict to stop the massacres and follow the games, and to note that rivalry can have other solutions besides war. She urged the attainment of the golden dream of the great promoter of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin: that sport lead to peace.

Prince SOBANDLA, Minister for Home Affairs of Swaziland, said the ninth century B.C. Olympic truce, which was eventually ratified by all Greek city states, provided that athletes, artists and their families and pilgrims could travel safely and attend the Olympic Games. None of the Swaziland athletes had returned from international games with regrets. The warmth, tolerance, love and appreciation for others they experienced could not be experienced inside any one country. His country strongly advocated the spirit of the Olympic Ideal. The Olympic truce should be given its rightful place. There was a natural link between the ethics of the Olympic Games and the fundamental principles of the United Nations. Money should be invested in the youth and sports for a better world. Drug abuse, which had infiltrated the youth and sporting fraternity, was inimical to sports groups and the international community.

DURGA P. BHANDARI (Nepal) said the development of sport activity helped the development of a vibrant society. The Olympic truce should not be limited to the cessation of hostilities during the Olympic Games; the young men and women who would make an impressive gathering during the Olympic Games should make a pledge to work for peace and harmony of the world throughout the rest of their lives. Proper use of the Olympic Ideal was a condition for the building of a more peaceful and better world. "This ideal, set more than

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2,000 years ago and dedicated to the building of a world of people who were to be whole and healthy in body and mind, can be an effective force in the creation of a harmonious new world order."

JULIO MIRANDA CALHA, Secretary of State for Sports of Portugal, said the activities undertaken by countries through sports associations and the Olympic Movement had contributed decisively to the creation of the sports culture among millions of people. This culture had allowed athletes to be ever more conscious of the need to defend the principle of respect for human dignity. And, consequently, the Olympic Ideal had been linked to the major concerns of humanity, such as the protection of the environment, the prevention of disease, the pursuance of disease and the alleviation of human suffering.

The newly elected Portuguese Government had sponsored the draft resolution with great pride, and it welcomed all initiatives developed by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee and was willing to participate fully in them. The observance of the Olympic truce could constitute an important move towards conflict resolution.

PAPA BABOUCAR MBAYE (Senegal) said respect for an Olympic truce was an imperative need. States should adopt the draft resolution before the Assembly. The International Olympic Committee should stress education and peace based on the Olympic Ideal. On the threshold of the third century, it was hoped that the ideals of the Olympic spirit would contribute to inspiring mankind on its march towards universal harmony.

ADAM OSTRY (Canada) said his country had demonstrated a strong commitment to the principles of fair play and ethics in sport, notably through policies and programmes to increase access by women in sports and through efforts in the anti-doping area. Canada had hosted the First World Conference on Anti-Doping in Sport in 1988 from which the International Olympic Anti- Doping Charter was created. "We must all, and in particular those countries which have the means to do so, support the efforts of our national Olympic committees to institute strong anti-doping measures, including unannounced testing, within their respective domestic sport federations." Member States must reinforce their mutual cooperation in international anti-doping efforts.

VASSILIS KASKARELIS (Greece) said the Olympic Ideal had been alive in the hearts of the Greek people for more than 30 centuries. However remote, the goal of a world based on the rule of law, justice and peace had always provided a source of inspiration and hope. Since its birth in 776 B.C., the Olympic Ideal stood for virtuous antagonism and peaceful competition. Although the draft before the Assembly was only a small step, a long path is indeed made of small steps.

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He said athletics were an influence in education, health and recreation and a means of communications, brotherhood, solidarity and peace. The world athletic movement today was in the midst of a dangerous crisis. The philosophical nucleus of the ancient Greek spirit was being superseded by extreme commercialization. It turned fans into hooligans, athletes into ruthless professionals and clubs into trading companies. It also seemed unable to confront the plagues of drug abuse and violence.

The Greek people wholeheartedly wished Atlanta success as host of the Olympic Games next summer. He expressed the hope that the world in general and the International Olympic Committee in particular would acknowledge the moral debt owed to Greece and the Olympic Ideal by giving his country the honour of hosting the Olympic Games. Greece stood ready to host the Olympic Games at the turn of the century.

HANS PETER MANZ (Austria) said that sports allowed people to channel innate human qualities of rivalry and aggression in a constructive manner, providing an example of competitive yet harmonious human interaction. Sports provided individuals with the means to develop their physical and mental skills which fostered good health and self-esteem. The Special Olympics, in particular, served an invaluable function for the disabled. Individuals who found themselves marginalized and even humiliated by society were given the chance, by way of sports, to be at the centre of attention, to feel large- scale support and to become heroes. Austria, as a former host country of the Special Olympics, would continue to promote that concept as a strategy for promoting the full integration of the disabled into society.

LUIS ALFONSO MUNOZ AGUIRRE, Director-General of Coldeportes in Colombia, said the Olympic Ideal supported the harmonious development of mankind, and sport and culture were excellent tools to bring about peace and co-existence among people. Sport, recreation and proper use of leisure time were a right that Colombia was committed to guaranteeing to all its people. It placed particular emphasis on sports programmes for indigenous people and the disabled, as well as on the avoidance of violence and drug use in sports. It was of fundamental importance to control drug use through world-wide cooperation.

PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica) commended the International Olympic Committee's increased surveillance of doping in sports. She urged all athletes, as well as their coaches and doctors, not to succumb to the temptation of taking performance-enhancing drugs. Such habits developed in play would be carried over into work, as young athletes continued to cheat in their academic and business activities.

She urged the international community not to give up hope that lasting peace can be achieved in the world and to remember "that anything is possible;

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that the system of apartheid has been dismantled, the Berlin Wall has fallen and that at the last Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, a tiny tropical island State which has experienced neither snow nor ice, entered the bobsleigh competition for the third time, and finished ahead of some of the veterans of the sport".

MAKI KHAMAS, member of the National Olympic Committee of Iraq, said the Olympic Movement had played an important role in the search for world peace by educating world youth on the virtues of peace and by promoting sports relations instead of confrontation and domination. The United Nations Charter with its goals for peace coincided with the goals of physical education and sports. It was therefore necessary to promote international cooperation in sports and to avoid negative political effects.

In that connection, he said that the Security Council had subjected his country to an embargo, which had numerous negative effects, including on sports. The inability of athletes to obtain sports equipment and the lack of adequate nutrition had deprived Iraqi teams of their natural potential. There had been a deterioration of sports activities in schools and universities. The negative effects of the embargo on sports were felt in all aspects of life. He called on all countries to promote dialogue and build bridges through the promotion of sports.

SHUNJI MARUYAMA (Japan) said, as the host for the next Winter Olympic Games in Nagano in 1998, Japan would like to express its great pleasure at hearing the current discussion in the Assembly. All around the world, sport played a prominent role in promoting mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill. Programmes to enhance the participation of women and youth in sport were welcome. Young people could promote peace through participation in sports and by living in accordance with the principles underlying sporting competition.

Japan welcomed the fact that a truce would be declared during the Olympic Games, he said. Since the time of the ancient Greeks, the goal of the Olympic Games has been to build a peaceful and better world and enhance human dignity, and that goal deserved continued support. Currently, Japan was making every effort to ensure that the Winter Games held in Nagano would be the most smoothly run ever. "We are convinced that the Nagano Games will inspire participants and observers alike to strive to realize the goals of the Olympics in their own lives and in the relations of their countries."

PAULETTE CORNETTE (Guyana) said the Olympic Movement had made a valuable contribution towards building a better world through sport, and the United Nations had taken a major step in furthering its own efforts to foster peace and development by its full acceptance and endorsement of the concept of the Olympic truce. By extending the principle of ekecheria, or Olympic truce, the

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world could at least pray from some respite, however temporary, from killings and destruction. She urged those currently engaged in conflicts -- despite the urgency and validity of the causes for which they were struggling -- to show some regard for the higher principles of the Olympic Ideal. Guyana was pleased that the International Olympic Committee was making an appreciable effort to provide humanitarian assistance to several war-torn areas.

DEMOS GEORGIADES, President of the Cyprus Sports Organization, said the ancient Greek spirit that gave rise to the Olympian Ideal of athletic achievement and excellence transcended the cultural and political boundaries that divided human communities. "The Olympic Ideal continues to inspire us to this day. It shines like a beacon of hope, a guiding force underpinning the fundamental values of society: peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law." It was by instilling in youth the Olympic Ideal that cultural and political discord could be overcome.

He went on to say that consideration should be given to organizing an Olympiad in Greece, the country that first hosted the Olympic Games and gave birth to the original Olympic spirit. "My country, a land divided by foreign aggression and foreign occupation, continues its struggle for peace and freedom. This struggle is motivated by the same spirit that guided the founders of the Olympic Games. It is a spirit driven by the ideals of peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and reconciliation."

LE BUU, General Director of Sport and Physical Education of Viet Nam, recommended that the leaders of sport and physical education of every country strive for the implementation of last year's General Assembly resolution on the Olympic Ideal of creating a world of peace and stability in which all peoples might enjoy their fundamental rights to live in peace, equality and development, and to exercise the right to exchange and cooperate through sport. He thanked the Secretary-General, the president of the International Olympic Committee, and organizations involved in sports and the Olympic Movement for assisting Viet Nam.

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