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.

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UNESCO Celebrity Advocates Program - Background
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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.

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Champion for Sport - Why Tiger Woods?
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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