Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK1039
2009-11-16 20:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TURNS TO SPORTS

Tags:  UNGA SOCI AORC KOLY SCUL 
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1039 3202038
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 162038Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7629
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001039 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA SOCI AORC KOLY SCUL
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TURNS TO SPORTS

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001039

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNGA SOCI AORC KOLY SCUL
SUBJECT: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TURNS TO SPORTS


1. The UN General Assembly on October 19 called upon all
Member States to cooperate in efforts to use sport as a tool
for peace, to proclaim the Olympic Truce during the Olympic
Winter Games (Vancouver, 2010),and welcomed the historic
holding of soccer's World Cup for the first time in Africa
(South Africa, 2010). It adopted by consensus two
resolutions, "Building a peaceful and better world through
sport and the Olympic ideal" (A/64/L.2) and "2010
International Federation of Association Football World Cup
event" (A/64/L.3). They each reached a large number of
co-sponsors (150 and 110 respectively),including the United
States. For webcast see
(http://webast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2 009/ga091019pm-orig.
rim). For UN press summary see (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//
2009/ga10872.doc.htm).


2. The first draft resolution A/64/L.2 proclaimed the
Olympic Truce for the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X
Paralympic Winter Games (Vancouver, 2010). The text called
on the Secretary-General to promote observance of the Olympic
Truce and it called on States to cooperate with the Olympic
Movement in efforts to use sport to promote peace and
reconciliation in conflict areas. "These Games are not just
about 27 days of sport, but also about the privileged
opportunity to inspire a generation", said John Furlong,
Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing
Committee. The text captured key elements from past
resolutions, including recognition of sport's growing role in
achieving the Millennium Development Goals.


3. In the ensuing debate, Greece highlighted that the
promotion of peace was, in fact, the actual reason the
Olympic Games had been established, and that the Truce had
been upheld for over 1300 years, making it the longest peace
treaty in history. The Truce was revived in 1994 to call for
the safe passage and participation of all at the Olympic
Games. Greece believed that the Truce had become an
expression of mankind's desire to build a world based on the
rules of fair competition, civility, reconciliation and
tolerance.


4. Also speaking were Prince Albert II of Monaco as head of
state and as a member of the International Olympic Committee,
NAME, India's Minister of State for External Affairs; China,
Cuba, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and the
United States.


5. The Assembly adopted, also by consensus, a resolution on
the "2010 International Federation of Association Football
World Cup event", by which it welcomed the historic hosting
of the 2010 International Federation of Association Football
(FIFA) World Cup in South Africa, the first time a major
sport event of this scale would be held in Africa. By that
text, the Assembly emphasized the role of sport in promoting
peace, solidarity and socio-economic development, and
encouraged States to support sport as a means to promote
peace and development. It also encouraged Governments to
support the 2010 World Cup, including through stimulating
popular attendance.


6. Introducing that resolution, South Africa said the World
Cup 2010 created an opportunity -- "so important in our
troubled universe" -- for all to experience the reality that
they belonged to one family, regardless of race, color,
gender, age, or religious belief. Recalling that the United
Nations had stood with South Africa during the dark days of
apartheid, he said the resolution presented the Assembly with
another opportunity to offer support, as the text's
objectives resonated with the United Nations' three pillars
of peace, development and human rights.


7. See http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/200 9/130727.htm
for the statement by the Honorable Wellington Webb, Senior
Advisor to the Permanent Representative of the United States
to the Sixty-Fourth Session of the United Nations General
Assembly, on Agenda Item 46: "Building a better and more
peaceful world through sport and the Olympic ideal", in the
Plenary of the General Assembly, October 19, 2009.
Wolff