ACTIVITIES OF SECRETARY-GENERAL IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, 7-10 FEBRUARY

Secretary-General Kofi Annan traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, in the afternoon of Thursday, 7 February, to attend the XIX Winter Olympic Games, at the invitation of Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee.

On Friday morning, he had breakfast with Dr. Rogge, and also met with his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Adolf Ogi.  That afternoon, he attended a reception, convened by Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, in honour of United States President George W. Bush.

He and Mrs. Annan attended the opening of the Games that evening, in the Presidential Box, in the company of President Bush and of Mr. Rogge.

On Saturday, the Secretary-General delivered the keynote address at an event organized by Olympic Aid, an athlete-driven humanitarian organization whose mission is to use sport as a tool to further child development. 

“Over the past few years,” the Secretary-General said, "there has been a growing understanding of the role sports can play in changing people's lives for the better -– and those of young people in particular.”

He called on governments, development agencies and communities to think how sport can be included more systematically in plans to help children -- particularly those who live in the midst of poverty, disease or conflict.  (See Press Release SG/SM/8119.)

Following the Olympic Aid event, the Secretary-General paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Present at that meeting were Gordon B. Hinckley, President; Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor, and James E. Faust, Second Counselor of the Church.

While in Salt Lake City, the Secretary-General also met United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, who was also attending the Olympic Aid event.

During their stay, the Secretary-General, accompanied by Nane Annan, attended a number of sporting events.  At the Olympic village they had a chance to meet with a number of Olympic athletes, including members of the United States women’s bobsleigh team and the Swedish curling team.  Also present were members of the Olympic delegations from Nepal and Cameroon.

The Secretary-General and Mrs Annan returned to New York on Sunday night, 10 February.