PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE

Ronaldo “Ronaldinho” Assis de Moreira of Brazil, two-time Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Player of the Year (2004 and 2005) and holder of two prestigious football awards -- European Player of the Year and FIFPro World Player of the Year, both in 2005 -- was appointed United Nations Spokesperson for Sport for Development and Peace in a ceremony overseen by Djibril Diallo, Director of the United Nations New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace, during a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

Watched by a roomful of correspondents and numerous guests bearing posters and “Brasil” t-shirts, the renowned footballer for FC Barcelona signed a two-year, renewable fixed-term contract with the Office of Sport for Development and Peace, at the D-2 level.  His assignment, correspondents learned, was to help accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals using sport and culture as an entry point.  The signing was officially witnessed by the President of FC Barcelona, Xavier Sala i Martin, and Chile’s Permanent Representative, Heraldo Muñoz, who represented the 25 United Nations ambassadors belonging to the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace.  According to the terms of contract, the salary for the post amounted to $1 per year.

He was then presented with an official certificate making him a Goodwill Ambassador, after which the football star -- commonly referred to simply as Ronaldinho -- delivered a short statement in Portuguese.  In it, he said was deeply grateful to the United Nations for the appointment.  “Football has given me a marvellous life and I feel obliged to use sport to give back to the youth what football has given to me,” he said.

Mr. Diallo said Ronaldinho had received a warm welcome prior to the press conference from Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who had wished him luck in his new undertaking as Spokesperson for Sport for Development and Peace.  Mr. Diallo went on to explain that a two-level work plan was envisioned for Ronaldinho, beginning with visits to villages hard-hit by poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean.  At the D-2 level, he would be given a laissez-passer for use on official functions.

“After the International Year of Sport and Physical Education in 2005, this gives us a major opportunity to mainstream the role of sport in the 192 States of the United Nations,” Mr. Diallo said, adding that Ronaldinho’s first assignment will be to help mobilize youth worldwide to tackle poverty, in conjunction with the upcoming United Nations Global Youth Leadership Summit in New York, from 29 to 31 October, organized by his Office.

The United Nations had two offices dealing with sport for development and peace, located in New York and Geneva, he explained.  Under the leadership of the former President of Switzerland, Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace since 2001, the two offices encouraged the use of “sports popularity and power” to help create opportunities for development and build a more peaceful world.  The body worked in partnership with the sports community, Governments, civil society, media and academia, counting FIFA among its close partners.

Congratulating Ronaldinho in English and Spanish, FC Barcelona President, Xavier Sala i Martín said his football club thought of itself as more than a club, telling correspondents that 0.7 per cent of its income was donated to humanitarian causes.  “We embrace the values of democracy and freedom and engage constantly in humanitarian acts and are very proud that our players embrace similar causes.  We want them to be superstars not only in the field but also superstars as human beings.”

Several correspondents asked Ronaldinho for his views on world issues -- including the impact on youth of the Middle East conflict and sustainable development -- and what he planned to do about them in his capacity as a United Nations Spokesperson.  “I have devoted my life to helping youth realize their dreams,” said Ronaldinho, speaking through Mr. Diallo as an interpreter.  “Now, working with the United Nations, I will be ready to help, through events, messages and any other means to help relieve the difficulties youth are confronted with, no matter which side they are on.”

Ambassador Muñoz, who also addressed the press alongside Ronaldinho, said it was difficult to talk about sport against the backdrop of current world events.  “Next door, in the Security Council, there is a discussion on a resolution to stop the killing of innocent people in Lebanon and northern Israel.  But, if you think about it, what we need is precisely more sport and less war, more soccer balls and less bullets.  This is what Ronaldinho embodies, not only because of his career as a brilliant footballer, but also because of the values that he supports -- the values of development, non-discrimination, of the fight against hunger and poverty.”

Ronaldinho also fielded a few football-related questions during the conference, such as whether his team would win the next Champions League, to which he answered: “I hope so”.

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For information media • not an official record