PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL ADVISER ON SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL ADVISER ON SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Sport could be used as a powerful instrument of change, to bridge differences between Governments and to give people worldwide hope for a better future, said Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

His comments came shortly after the General Assembly adopted two resolutions:  “Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace” and “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”.  The Assembly had proclaimed 2005 as the International Year of Sport and Physical Education.

“We still have conflicts in our world, we still have terrorism, we have diseases, natural disasters, hunger, and poverty”, Mr. Ogi said.  Sport could not create a better world, but it could strengthen partnerships between countries and teach people how to treat each other with dignity and respect.

Mr. Ogi had just returned from a refugee camp on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, where thousands of people were homeless and there was no electricity or running water.  “We have a responsibility to give to those poor boys and girls and their parents, something which can make them forget the dramatic situation they are in.”  Through sport, he said, opportunity was created for everyone.

So far, 60 countries were actively taking part in the International Year and 60 more had planned to do so.  Politicians around the world were starting to listen.  Obesity and the lack of exercise were starting to be recognized as major health problems.  “We have achieved many great things, but we have failed to master human issues, educational issues and capacity-building.”

The time had come for both resolutions to be implemented, he said.  The twenty-first century must be the century of better education, better training and less unemployment.  Through sport people learned integration, solidarity, fair play and discipline.  Only two fields offered that -- culture and sport.  It was up to the adults of today to prepare the next generation to deal with the problems of the world, and manage it in another way.  “It is important that sport gets a better understanding, that it gets value, that it has a platform that is accepted throughout the world, and that is not yet the case.”

When asked if there would be enough money to promote sport in the United Nations system, which was already so short on finances, Mr. Ogi said a solution would be found.

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For information media • not an official record