Secretary-General, in Video Message, Hails Pyeongchang Music, Art Festival as ‘Valuable Legacy’ of Special Olympic World Winter Games

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Pyeongchang Special Music and Art Festival, in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea, to be held 7-11 August 2015:

Honourable Na Kyung-won, Chairperson of Special Olympics Korea,

Honourable Han Seung-Soo, Honorary Chairperson of Pyeongchang Special Music and Art Festival,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to send warm greetings to the Pyeongchang Special Music and Art Festival.  Congratulations to all the participants!  I thank the organizers, musicians and artists who have made this wonderful event possible.  You are all deeply inspiring.

This Festival is a valuable legacy of the Special Olympic World Winter Games hosted by Pyeongchang two years ago.  What a meaningful way to bring people together!

At the United Nations, we work in six languages — and our delegates speak many more.  But music, art and sport are universal languages with the power to change our world.  Too many persons with disabilities still suffer discrimination.  That is why the United Nations is leading a global drive to uphold and advance the rights of all persons with disabilities.

I am confident that the Pyeongchang Special Music and Art Festival will help this great cause and I wish you all success.  Thank you.