UN envoy stresses Olympic Games in Beijing as unifying nations and peoples

“Sports can help bring people together, as witnessed by major international competitions such as the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games,” the United Nations envoy tasked with promoting sport for development and peace said Friday.

“Sport is a universal language that unites people and breaks down barriers, whether they are ethical, religious, economic or social,” Wilfried Lemke told reporters, as he briefed them on his activities during his first few months as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace.

Mr. Lemke, a former athlete and sports teacher, added that “sports have a vital role in society, as they teach fundamental values such as discipline, fair play, confidence and tolerance”.

He also echoed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in noting that sports can be an instrument to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the set of anti-poverty targets world leaders pledged to realize by 2015.

During a recent visit to Africa, Mr. Lemke went to the poor townships in South Africa and the slums of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, where his Office had some initiatives for children in partnership with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

There he had a chance to witness how sports can be used to promote development. He will also be lacing up his running shoes in November, when he plans to participate in the New York City Marathon to raise money for a project in Nairobi.

But prior to that, the Special Adviser will be heading to Beijing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. He will be chairing a meeting of the International Working Group on Sports for Development and Peace ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony on 8 August.

The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the UN travels on Tuesday to China, where he is slated to hold meetings with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, as well as with the United Nations Country Team.

He is also expected to visit Olympic Games sites and speak at the Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.