UNESCO: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE, UNESCO CHAMPIONS

UNCLAS PARIS 001301 SIPDIS FROM USMISSION UNESCO PARIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO SCUL UNESCO SUBJECT: UNESCO: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE, UNESCO CHAMPIONS FOR SPORT ¶1. SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE: UNESCO has an array of programs related to celebrity advocates, such as goodwill ambassadors, who help focus the world's attention on UNESCO as an organization. The US Mission to UNESCO requests guidance on approaching Mr. Tiger Woods about becoming a UNESCO Champion for Sports. Mission requests guidance on two points. First, should the US nominate Mr. Woods? Second, who should approach Mr. Woods, Washington or the Mission? The Mission has top-level contacts in golf that can assist in approaching Mr. Woods. END SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE. -------------- -- UNESCO Celebrity Advocates Program - Background -------------- -- ¶2. UNESCO uses prizes and celebrities to "amplify" the mission of UNESCO. While the prizes have, at times, been controversial, the celebrity advocate program is not. First Lady Laura Bush is part of the celebrity advocate program and serves as the Honorary Ambassador for the Decade for Literacy. Other categories in the celebrity advocate program include; Goodwill Ambassadors, Special Envoys, Champions of Sport, Artists for Peace and Scientists for Peace. ¶3. The five UNESCO Champions for Sport are: Pel (Brazil, soccer),Michael Schumacher (Germany, auto racing),Serhiy Bubka (Ukrane, Olympic pole-vaulter),David Douillet (France, Olympic judo),and Vyacheslav Fetisov (Russia, Olympic and NHL hockey). US citizens who are celebrity advocates are: First Lady, Laura Bush (Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Decade for Literacy),Mistalav Rostropovich (Goodwill Ambassador, cellist, conductor), Cheick Modibo Diarra (Goodwill Ambassador, NASA scientist), ¶N. Scott Momaday (Artist for Peace, Native American writer, poet, painter, professor). ¶4. COMMENT: The U.S. Mission feels that our next priority in the area of prizes and celebrities should be establishing high standards for UNESCO. In addition to reforming the current practices of prizes and celebrity selection, the US can "raise the bar" by nominating truly world-class personalities like Tiger Woods. END COMMENT. -------------- Champion for Sport - Why Tiger Woods? -------------- ¶5. Tiger Woods represents the best in sports. He has achieved success in a sport that is extremely exacting and brutally objective. Your score determines your success in golf, not your contract or reputation. Integrity is key: players call penalties on themselves and keep their own score. ¶6. Tiger Woods' activities off the golf course are particularly pertinent to UNESCO. He has established the Tiger Woods Foundation to promote health, education and welfare of children. His values include integrity, honesty, discipline, responsibility and fun. The recently launched Tiger Woods Learning Center focuses on science, math and language arts. It is important to note that he began his foundation before the age of thirty, which shows his early commitment to helping children. Further, the overlap in objectives of the Tiger Woods Foundation and UNESCO is indeed significant. Oliver