A/64/PV.21 General Assembly

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendation of the Sixth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that “When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee.” May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes. Before we begin to take action on the recommendation contained in the report of the Sixth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take a decision in the same manner as was done in the Sixth Committee. The Assembly will now proceed to take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. The Sixth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 167?

As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, I have the honour of introducing to the General Assembly today the draft resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” (A/64/L.2). With just 116 days left before the official opening of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and 144 days to the opening of the X Paralympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, I am pleased to be here today to highlight the principles and ideals that underpin the draft resolution. When Vancouver won the bid to host the XXI Olympic Winter Games, our Organizing Committee, together with the Government of Canada and our partners, set a vision of success far beyond the legacies of facilities, structures and economics. For these Games to have true and lasting meaning for all lives that would be touched by them, we needed to ensure a human legacy, one that is about harnessing the power of sport to transform the spirit of a nation, if not an entire world community. From the beginning, our vision for the Games has been a shared vision, supported by an entire nation: a vision grounded in our collective regard for sport and support for the values of Olympism — mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play; a vision that has guided our decisions, our actions and our partnerships; a vision that has shaped our hopes and dreams for success. These Games are not just about 27 days of sport, but also about a privileged opportunity to inspire a generation. And so we have endeavoured to capture that vision, in collaboration with all nations represented here, in the draft resolution put before the Assembly. The resolution captures key elements from past Olympic Truce resolutions: recognizing the growing role that sport is playing as a tool within United Nations agencies and Member States to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; highlighting the important work of the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace; and encouraging the efforts of international sport organizations and national Olympic and Paralympic Committees to mobilize sport to foster social development and strengthen a culture of peace. The draft resolution also welcomes the joint endeavours of the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the United Nations system in such fields as human development, poverty alleviation, humanitarian assistance, health promotion, HIV and AIDS prevention, youth education, equality, peacebuilding and sustainable development. In its central focus, this draft resolution finds its inspiration in the ancient Greek tradition of granting a truce during the Olympic Games, which ensured safe passage of athletes to and from the Games. In addition to appealing for the observation of the Olympic Truce during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the resolution also calls on United Nations Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee in their efforts to use sport as a tool to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period. Canada has been honoured by the helpful cooperation among other United Nations Member States and by their many contributions and ideas towards formulating this year’s resolution. In addition, we are very grateful for the assistance from the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees and the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace and for their support in developing new elements in the text, and for the valuable counsel provided by the Group of Friends on Sport for Development and Peace. The draft resolution is consistent with the longstanding recognition of sport as a vital tool for social development. Canada recognizes the power of sport to build sustainable communities, to advocate for equality, to foster social inclusion among young people and to contribute to a global culture of peace. To this end, Canada is actively supporting a number of effective sport-for-development initiatives in the Commonwealth, la Francophonie, the Middle East and South America. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games marks the first time Canada has been responsible for leading Olympic Truce efforts since the Truce was revitalized in 1992. However, the very nature of this ancient and time- honoured tradition calls for the widest amount of cooperation at the global level if the ultimate objectives of the draft resolution are to be achieved. Once again, the tremendous level of support for and sponsorship of the draft resolution is a testament to the universal support for the principles affirmed in the text. The Organizing Committee aims to pursue the Olympic Truce goals of protecting the interests of athletes and contributing to peaceful and diplomatic solutions to conflict around the world through meaningful engagement with Canadians and the international community and through key initiatives that leave lasting legacies locally, nationally and internationally. The spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games serves as a call to action for young people to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of fair play, friendship and respect. At home, young Canadians across the country are taking up this call through an initiative with the theme “Make your Peace”. Based on the idea that lasting peace starts at the local level, the initiative encourages individuals to create everyday peace at home, school, work and in the community. By empowering our young people in everyday acts of peace, we are fostering a generation of conscientious global citizens and creating the building blocks for just, inclusive and harmonious societies of tomorrow. The recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities is evident in the support of the Paralympic Movement in this draft Olympic Truce resolution, an important initiative that Canada sought to include, building on previous versions of the resolution. The application of the Olympic Truce to the Paralympic Games and the related commitments of the International Paralympic Committee, alongside those of the International Olympic Committee, is for Canada an important demonstration of the power of sport to address social inclusion and encourage active participation of persons with disabilities on an equitable basis with others in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. The draft Olympic Truce resolution also highlights Canada’s commitment to full participation of our country’s Aboriginal peoples. These Games mark a historic level of participation by Canada’s Aboriginal community in a national event — achieved through a shared desire from all partners to staging Games that fully reflect Canada’s rich and diverse society. The very title of this draft resolution — “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” — speaks to the mandate we have set for ourselves: to leave the world in better shape as a result of our collective international efforts at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Government of Canada, the host province of British Columbia, the host city of Vancouver, the Vancouver Organizing Committee and all our partners, I thank the Assembly for its attention and hope that this draft resolution will be adopted with the Assembly’s unanimous support.

I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa to introduce draft resolution A/64/L.3.

I have the honour to introduce on behalf of my delegation and other sponsors draft resolution A/64/L.3, entitled, “2010 International Federation of Association Football World Cup event”, which will be held in South Africa. I would like to announce that since the tabling of the draft resolution the following countries have become sponsors: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Iceland, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Liberia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine and the United States of America. In his statement during the general debate of the Assembly’s sixty-fourth session (see A/64/PV.4), His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, highlighted the importance South Africa and Africa attach to hosting the 2010 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup in the middle of next year. The historic decision by FIFA to award the hosting of the 2010 World Cup to South Africa marked the first time that this major sporting event will take place on the African continent. The United Nations always stood with the people of South Africa during the dark days of apartheid and supported the liberation and self-determination of our people. That crucial support culminated in the historic democratic elections of April 1994. Today, we come to the Assembly as free people and as a free nation. More than ever before, our democratic Government is committed to peace and development in South Africa, Africa and the world at large. The draft resolution before us today presents the Assembly with another opportunity to provide necessary political support to South Africa and Africa for the hosting of a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup. The objective of the draft resolution resonates with the three pillars of the United Nations, namely peace, development and human rights. There is global recognition of the importance, role and contribution that a sport like soccer can make in various domains. Given its universal popularity, soccer plays a positive role in bringing people together and can be mainstreamed into the strategic agenda of countries. The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting festivals of our age. It provides a global stage on which nations and peoples of the world come together to reaffirm our common humanity. It creates the opportunity, so important in our troubled universe, for all of us to experience the reality that we belong to one human family, regardless of race, colour, gender, age, political and religious belief and country or continent of origin. South Africa is committed to ensuring that hosting this event contributes to deepening social cohesion, national reconciliation, peace and prosperity in Africa and beyond. South Africa is also committed to contributing to the ideals of freedom, liberty and hope for a better world. We believe that sport can effectively contribute to the realization of social and economic development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the promotion of dialogue among civilizations. For that reason, we commend the continued work of the United Nations New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace and the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, in Geneva. Both offices have effectively contributed to advancing advocacy work on sports within the United Nations system and beyond. Two hundred and thirty-four days away from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we would like to assure the Assembly that South Africa is ready to deliver a world- class soccer event that will ensure a lasting legacy for the people of Africa. The African Legacy Programme for the 2010 World Cup is aimed at supporting the realization of African Renaissance objectives, including programmes of the African Union such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development; ensuring maximum and effective African participation at the 2010 event; supporting efforts aimed at strengthening and promoting the development and advancement of African football; and improving Africa’s global image. Similarly, we undertake to ensure that our continent shares a common sense of hope and that we will sustain the pride of FIFA and of all footballers and lovers of football throughout the world in the human festival that is the soccer World Cup. We thank all Member States for their constructive inputs and suggestions during the consultations on the draft text. On behalf of the South African delegation and other sponsors, we hope that the draft resolution will enjoy the unanimous support of the General Assembly. In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm South Africa’s readiness and commitment to hosting the peoples of the world next year, who will enjoy unique African hospitality and vibrancy. Working together, we can do more to ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa becomes one of the most memorable sporting events. We will see everyone in South Africa and Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010 and at all other times.

I am honoured and privileged to participate in today’s discussion on “Sport for peace and development: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”. As I am speaking for the first time at the sixty- fourth session of the General Assembly, please allow me at the outset, Sir, to add my voice to those of preceding speakers in congratulating you on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly. By its very nature, sport is about inclusion and participation. It brings individuals and communities together and bridges ethnic and cultural divides. It transcends social-cultural barriers and geographical borders and promotes peace and harmony. It also provides for understanding of the importance of discipline and leadership. Sport is an inalienable part of the educational process and an essential component of a child’s development. It also fosters children’s physical and emotional health and the building of valuable social connections. The fundamental elements of sport, including the obvious benefits of physical and mental well-being, make it a most useful tool for supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Moreover, sporting activities have a unique convening power to spur social communication and advocacy. They are most effective tools for social mobilization, supporting such activities as HIV/AIDS education and immunization campaigns. In re-channelling destructive impulses and harmful actions, such as drug abuse and involvement in crime, the efficacy of sport cannot be overemphasized. Mastery in sports was considered as important as knowledge of scriptures in ancient India. The education system in modern India is trying to continue and build upon that heritage and respect for sport and physical education. The efforts of the Government of India have been aimed at broad-basing sports and providing modern sports infrastructure. A national sports policy was adopted by India in 2001. At the national level, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the Government of India has responsibility for sports. The Sports Authority of India is its principal arm for nurturing talent and providing infrastructure, equipment, coaching and other facilities. Here, if I may add a personal touch, I am indeed proud that India’s National Institute of Sports is located in my constituency, Patiala. My family has been and is intimately connected with the Olympic movement. In addition, the Government has encouraged the national sports federations to function more efficiently and is encouraging the active involvement of business and industry in the promotion of sports. We are proud that New Delhi will be hosting the next Commonwealth Games from 3 to 14 October 2010. The Games are a unique, world-class, multi-sport event held once every four years among the member countries and territories of the Commonwealth. The three core values of the Commonwealth Games movement — humanity, equality and destiny — were adopted by the movement in 2001. Those values inspire and unite millions of people and symbolize the broad mandate for holding the games within the Commonwealth. India organized the Commonwealth Youth Games, a sub-event of the Commonwealth Games, in Pune in October 2008. Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, said, “Sport must be the heritage of all men and of all social classes”. India is steadfast in its commitment to the Olympic Charter and, as in previous years, is co-sponsoring in the General Assembly the draft resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” (A/64/L.2). We are also very pleased that the 2016 Olympics have been awarded to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a fellow developing country, and that the 2010 World Cup of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will be hosted by South Africa — a first for a country on the African continent. We are also co-sponsoring the draft resolution on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa (A/64/L.3). In addition, we wish Canada every success in organizing the XXI Winter Olympic Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games, and we commend Singapore’s initiative to organize the Youth Olympic Games. We have no doubt that the hosting of major global sporting events in developing countries will contribute greatly to the advancement of sports in developing countries and spur development activities. Sport is a reflection of society. The degeneration of values in society, as reflected in violence, corruption, hooliganism, deception and drug abuse, is also making inroads into the area of sport. Concerted vigilance and resolute action are needed to prevent the intrusion of those evils and to protect the noble ideals and spirit behind the Olympic Games and other sports. It must be our endeavour to promote sports and a culture of sports in our countries. That can only contribute to promoting development, peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding among peoples.

The Assembly will now hear an address by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and to invite him to address the Assembly. Prince Albert II (spoke in French): One month ago, from this very rostrum, an appeal was launched for a new type of multilateralism — one imbued with the values of cooperation, mutual comprehension, solidarity and tolerance; one that would be inclusive, participatory, transparent, effective and constructive; one that would bring States closer so that they could, together, fashion their common future while respecting their differences. Today, confronted with crises that no one can resolve alone, we are obligated, perhaps urgently, to act to improve the quality of life of millions of men, women and children, whose suffering is tarnishing the successes of our age, and to reduce the adverse consequences of the climate change and environmental degradation that threaten the very existence of future generations. By inviting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate in these deliberations, the General Assembly, mindful of preserving human dignity, is recognizing the symbol of a movement that defends an ideal of human progress and promotes a society of peace. The five interlocking rings representing our five continents, in the basic colours that are on all flags of the States Members of our Organization, are synonymous with hope. Therefore, more than at any time in the past 16 years, the building of a world that is peaceful and better thanks to sport and the Olympic ideal is of particular importance. Resolution 64/3 extends cooperation between two universal institutions, the values and ideals of which it defends and are strengthened by the granting to IOC of the status of observer in our Assembly. Born of the tradition of Ancient Greece, the Olympic Truce, known as ekecheiria, cornerstone of the Olympic Games, ordered in the ninth century B.C. the suspension of conflicts from the seventh day before the opening of the Games to the seventh day after the closing of the Games, and in this way allowed athletes and spectators to participate in these competitions in a safe and peaceful environment. Today, the Olympic Truce is the expression of humankind’s desire to build a world of peace, respectful of the principles of fair competition. Beyond the contribution of sport to peace and development, which we enshrined in the Millennium Declaration, the official involvement of the IOC in the deliberations of the General Assembly institutionalizes the link between ancient wisdom and the most vital objective of the United Nations — the maintenance of international peace and security. Thus, behind the symbol of the rings that we have all come to recognize is the temporary calming of an armed conflict — the opportunity to spare the life of a child, woman or man — that we truly support. As most pertinently emphasized in the International Committee of the Red Cross report entitled “Our world. Views from the field”, published in June 2009, it is also an all-too-brief moment to spare victims, often civilians, from suffering, displacement, the dispersion of families, lack of basic necessities, and above all fear — the fear of dying or, worse yet, of losing a loved one. As a member of the IOC, I have no doubt of the full support that it will lend to the work of our Assembly. Beyond its involvement in peacekeeping missions to promote sports as a means for re-establishing trust between parties emerging from a conflict, the IOC has endorsed our commitment to implementing the Millennium Development Goals. It has, on the one hand, based its social responsibility on six objectives where sports could have a strong impact, and, on the other hand, established relations with such United Nations bodies as the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, the United Nations Environment Programme, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the World Food Programme and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As we prepare to review the implementation of these objectives, the relevance of the IOC agenda and its participation in our deliberations could not be more appropriate. The study we shall undertake in 2010 will reveal the strength of our determination, but we already know that if we are to implement our priorities, as basic as they might be, we will need to redouble our efforts and enlist the support of all stakeholders and all people of goodwill, for it will be much more than an unprecedented effort towards general mobilization. We are convinced that, with the ongoing and unfailing support of the Secretary-General, the personal commitment of Mr. Lemke, his Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, the efforts of the Bureau, and the active contribution of the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace, we can help sport to realize its full potential for peace and development. The third annual Peace and Sport International Forum, to be held in the Principality of Monaco from 25 to 27 November, which I will be chairing, will once again bring together, in an apolitical context, global sport governance, Governments, athletes, non-governmental organizations and representatives of the private sector. Through this involvement, I have made a commitment to ensure that sport is recognized as a means of promoting and building peace in vulnerable communities affected by extreme poverty, the aftermath of conflicts or the lack of social cohesion. Peace and Sport is involved in a number of countries — Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, Timor-Leste and Colombia — and hopes soon to be involved in many others. Talking about the IOC without mentioning that it represents the largest sport organization for youth throughout the world would be a failure to recognize the intergenerational link that it embodies. The first Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Singapore in August 2010, will be a major event in that respect. Inculcating young people throughout the world with unpretentious and healthy values — physical well-being, health, a balanced lifestyle, and respect for fair play and non-discrimination — is an effort that must be renewed on a constant basis. That is the spirit not only of sport, but also of life in society in an interdependent world. I am very enthusiastic about the accomplishments of all those athletes whose work, rigour, discipline and resolve lead them to surpass themselves and inspire us to rediscover the feats that people are capable of. Finally, I would like to thank the Italian delegation for having submitted the request of the International Olympic Committee and wish our Canadian colleagues well-deserved success with the upcoming XXI Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, reminding them that I still have fond and moving memories of the XV Games in Calgary in 1988, where it was my honour to become an Olympian. In conclusion, I offer my full personal support and that of my delegation to South Africa and the continent of Africa for the holding of the 2010 World Cup of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, whose success will be important not only to the entire African continent, but to all those who share the values of sport.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco for the statement he has just made.

It is a great honour for me to take the floor on agenda item 45 in order to express my country’s wholehearted support for the draft resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” (A/64/L.2). Since 1993, the General Assembly has adopted eight resolutions on the Olympic Truce. It is important to stress that all these resolutions were sponsored by almost all Member States. This unique record proves that Member States are fully committed to the Olympic ideals and believe that the ancient Greek concept of ekecheiria retains its importance and can offer a constructive approach to conflict resolution. Promoting peace was, in fact, the very reason why the Olympic Games were originally established. In antiquity, the implementation of the Olympic Truce entailed a cessation of all hostilities to allow thousands of athletes, pilgrims and spectators to travel to Olympia to attend the sacred celebration of human achievement, and then return home in safety and security. The Olympic Truce was upheld for over 1,000 years, making it the longest lasting peace treaty in history. Today, the Olympic Games should continue to offer a unique opportunity to promote the culture of peace and to convey the message that it is possible to create a lasting peace from a pause in hostilities. With regard to the concept of Olympic Truce, it has become an expression of humankind’s desire to build a world based on the rules of fair competition, civility, reconciliation and tolerance. Moreover, it bridges an old and wise tradition related to the most essential objectives of the world today — the maintenance of international peace and the promotion of multicultural dialogue, cooperation and understanding. Making the Olympic Truce a reality in the modern world is truly a challenging endeavour, and we have no illusions that it will miraculously heal all the rifts that ravage so many regions of the world. However, if the Olympic Truce could help to bring about even a brief pause from conflict and strife, it would certainly send a powerful message of hope. The efficient tool for achieving this goal is sport, which is substantial to the notion of Olympic Truce. Over the past few years, sport has been widely recognized by States and specialized agencies as a cost-effective instrument for addressing humankind’s challenge. Furthermore, the latest comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the item under consideration stated that sport has been a powerful lever in the pursuit of the internationally agreed development goals, especially the Millennium Development Goals. It also mentions that sport successfully addresses such issues as racism, the plight of street children, gender inequality and traumatized youth — in other words, the root causes of violence. The Olympic Truce, as an ideological driving force, and Sport, as a practical means to advance human development, have proved to be the right combination for moving forward. Results, though not always impressive, have been obtained, so let us persevere in this direction and remain confident that it is the right one, keeping in mind that conflicts in the world will certainly not cease overnight.

China supports the consideration of the agenda item “Sport for peace and development” in the plenary of the General Assembly. China believes that sport has always played a major catalytic role in humankind’s pursuit of peace and development. It deepens understanding and exchanges among different cultures and promotes dialogue and cooperation. China appreciates the efforts of the United Nations to integrate the values of sport with the goal of peace and development. We support the Secretary- General’s Special Adviser and the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace in their endeavours to mobilize all possible resources to incorporate sport into activities and programmes for peacekeeping, development, education, health and gender equality and into the efforts to safeguard the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, so as to further advance the role of sport in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Last year, the Chinese Government successfully hosted the XXIX Summer Olympic Games and the XIII Paralympic Games in Beijing. Two years ago, the Chinese delegation sponsored and submitted for adoption resolution 62/4 on the Olympic Truce. Today, we are pleased to see that, under the agenda item on sport, the Governments of Canada and South Africa have submitted draft resolutions on the Olympic Truce and the World Cup of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), respectively draft resolutions A/64/L.2 and A/64/L.3. China is willing to join the sponsors of the two draft resolutions, and hopes for the full success of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, to be held in Vancouver, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, to be held in South Africa, and the first Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Singapore. We also welcome the participation of the International Olympic Committee in the General Assembly as an observer for the first time. The success of the Beijing Olympiad greatly increased the impact of the Olympic Games in developing countries, promoted the spreading of the Olympic spirit, aroused the enthusiasm of hundreds of millions of Chinese people for sport, and solidified the social foundation of the development of sport at the grass-roots level in China. In January 2009, in order to carry on the invaluable spiritual heritage of the Beijing Olympics and advance our national fitness programme, the Chinese Government proclaimed 8 August, the opening day of the Beijing Olympic Games, as our National Fitness Day. In September this year, the Chinese Government instituted national fitness regulations, the first comprehensive set of administrative regulations focusing on the development of a national fitness programme. By specifying the rights of citizens to engage in national fitness activities and the responsibilities of Government departments in promoting fitness for all, the regulations provide a strong legal basis to facilitate national fitness activities. The Chinese Government has also put in place a national physical condition monitoring system, a set of physical exercise standards and a physical training system for the general public. Concerted efforts and assiduous research have led to good results in finding ways to utilize the Beijing Olympic Games stadiums, thus reaping social as well as economic benefits. History proves that the people of China are capable not only of hosting a truly exceptional Olympiad, but also of wisely managing the invaluable physical heritage of the Beijing Olympic Games and passing on their spiritual heritage. 2009 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the new China. The past 60 years have witnessed rapid progress in our economic and social development and spectacular achievements in sport. The advancement of sport in China has greatly improved our people’s health, enhanced their self- confidence and inspired us in our ceaseless pursuit of excellence. Sport has also provided a boost for progress in all fields. Currently, with the coordination and healthy development of competitive sport, grass-roots sport activities and physical education throughout the Chinese educational system, the number of people engaged in regular physical exercise is now equivalent to 28.2 per cent of the entire population. Nationwide, there are over 850,000 sports facilities, or 1.02 square metres of sports facilities per capita, which is, respectively, 200 and 100 times more than in the years following the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Sport activities at the grass-roots level have been consistently improved in a systematic and scientific way. The standardized management of sport events and their appeal to the public are also increasing. Throughout the nation, there are now nearly 210,000 urban and rural fitness training centres and venues, 3,092 youth sports clubs and 176 single-event national, provincial, regional, municipal and professional sport associations. Guided by the scientific outlook on development, our Government will continue to give full play to the positive role of sport in the building of a harmonious society, to adhere to the goal of improving the physical well-being and the quality of life of all Chinese people, to build more and better urban and rural fitness facilities, to improve grass-roots sport organizations and the national fitness system, and to provide better sport services to the public so that the people can share the health and development benefits of sport. We stand ready to work with other countries and continue to advance the role of sport in promoting international peace and development, to enhance international cooperation and exchanges in sport, and to jointly contribute to world peace, development and prosperity.

The San Francisco Charter laid the basis for what would become a new system of international relations to prevent the recurrence of the terrible experiences of the two world wars of the twentieth century. The fundamental goal set out in its first paragraph is to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to establish a democratic and fair international order based on equal respect for the dignity of all human beings. With those objectives, the Organization to which we belong today was created, the aims of which are to maintain international peace and security, based on the principles of the sovereign equality of all its Members, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, the non-use or threat of force and non-intervention in the internal affairs of States. We were also promised that all peoples would achieve economic and social progress. However, having celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations, we now bear witness to a grim economic and social outlook marked by the combination of the economic and financial, food and energy crises, as well as the negative impact of climate change that threatens the human race. Furthermore, the powerful countries persist in their desire to control natural resources deemed strategic through wars of aggression and foreign occupation. As a result of those ills, responsibility for which lies with the current unfair and unequal international order, and not with the countries of the South, the countries of the South have seen our development efforts undermined. That is why, today more than ever, it is urgent to foster a climate of international peace by promoting solidarity and multilateralism as fundamental values. For Cuba, sport unquestionably strengthens solidarity and friendship among peoples as crucial factors in the promotion of peace, development and cooperation among nations. Sport is an important aspect of development at both the national and international levels. For Cuba, sport is no longer exclusive, but has become the right of the entire population. Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, we have discovered the true path of collective sport, which has led to outstanding successes in regional and international competitions. Pursuant to that right, we have promoted an educational system that includes physical education as an integral part of human learning. We are working to ensure sports training from early childhood with a view to promoting the talents of those who stand out as future athletes to champion and raise the level of our country in international sport. At the same time, we oppose the athletic activities whose only reward is money, and therefore condemn the theft of sporting talents to which developing countries are prey. The Cuban sport movement, headed by the Cuban Olympic Committee and the National Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, has offered its selfless cooperation to various countries of the South by sending technical experts, teachers and trainers who, modestly and on the basis of bilateral agreements, inculcate new sport training methods that help boost sporting results and mass participation, developing strong links of brotherhood and friendship among peoples. Mr. Valero Briceño (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela), Vice-President, took the Chair. We have also strengthened international cooperation by making our Institute of Sports Medicine and Anti-doping Laboratory available to the countries of the South in order to contribute to the fight against the scourge of drugs that corrupt athletes and hamper honest competition, as well as the reputation and culture of athletes and trainers. Cuba also founded the International School of Physical Education and Sport, devoted to training professionals who value solidarity above all and are capable of transforming physical education and sport in their countries. Cuba will host the Third International Convention of Physical Activity and Sport in Havana from 9 to 13 November 2009. The Convention’s motto is “Professional development, physical activity and quality of life”. We wish to congratulate Brazil on the selection of Rio de Janeiro as host of the 2016 Olympics. That choice was fair and well deserved. The countries of the South also deserve to host such games of brotherhood and solidarity without commercial interests. We are sure that the 2016 Olympic Games will be a success for the entire South. Let us spread world solidarity, including through the Olympic ideal, and all the weapons that this civilization has created will be superfluous. Let us sow ideas, and the relentless destruction of our environment will be averted. Let us share the hope that a better world is possible.

The Singapore delegation would like to congratulate Canada on the imminent adoption of draft resolution A/64/L.2, “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”. We are confident that Canada, as host of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games, will spare no efforts in its Olympic preparation in the coming months. We would like to extend to the Vancouver Winter Olympics Organizing Committee our best wishes for successful Games. Singapore is pleased to co-sponsor this resolution. Much has been said about how sport can be an agent for promoting understanding and respect among people. At the community level, sport has been a catalyst for combating social exclusion, engaging youth, building communities and positively influencing social behaviours. At the international level, sport has reinforced links between countries and regions, challenged prejudice and found commonalities among nations in conflict. Sport is about values that are fundamental to us and transcend all boundaries. The Youth Olympic Games is the first new product of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 80 years, the last being the Winter Olympic Games. The Youth Olympic Games will attract 5,000 youth athletes and officials from 205 National Olympic Committees to compete in all 26 summer sports in 201 events. At the 119th International Olympic Committee Session, the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, declared that the Youth Olympic Games “are the flagship of the IOC’s determination to reach out to young people. These games will not only be about competition, they will also be the platform through which youngsters will learn about the Olympic values and the benefits of sport, and share their experiences with other communities around the globe”. In a sporting arena tarnished by scandals and where use of steroids and cheating no longer surprise any of us, it is perhaps timely that we remind ourselves, and our youth, that sport is not just about victories, but about interacting and connecting with one another, uniting people and building bridges. Singapore is privileged to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games from 14 to 26 August 2010. Similar to the Olympic Games, the emphasis of the Youth Olympic Games will be on sport excellence. However, the Youth Olympic Games will integrate its sport programme with a culture and education programme. This is a first for the Olympic movement. It represents a shift in thinking and an opportunity to do things differently. Singapore envisions a Youth Olympic Games that will inspire our youth to embrace the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect not just in sport, but their everyday life. Singapore 2010 is about taking bold steps. It is about making an investment in our youth, our future leaders. With the introduction of the culture and education programme, the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games has been developed as a learning journey, even as young athletes prepare and train to compete in sport. The programme comprises five themes, such as Olympism, skills development and social responsibility. Through that fun and interactive programme, Singapore 2010 aims to provide young people with the opportunity to develop the confidence, belief and courage not only to succeed on the playing field, but to champion their values and convictions to make a positive impact in their communities and build a better and peaceful world. The learning journey for youth began in January 2008 through pre-Games activities and programmes. For example, one of the programmes, Friends@YOG, which was introduced in March 2009, twins every Singapore school to a school from each of the other 204 countries with a National Olympic Committee. That provides an opportunity for interaction among youth, which leads to better understanding of one another’s culture and country. During the Games, Singaporean youth will also have the opportunity to exhibit what they have learned about their counterparts in the world culture village at the Youth Olympic Village. That will provide a good platform for visiting athletes and officials to talk about their own countries and cultures and exchange ideas to get to know one another better. We are confident that the Youth Olympic Games pre-Games activities will contribute to the growth of our young people to become better leaders for tomorrow. Many international communities have joined us in our pre-Games activities, sharing their cultures and experiences in celebration of Singapore 2010. We invite members of the Assembly to join us in this journey as we lead in developing a legacy for future generations. Today’s youth have diverse interests and expectations. The Youth Olympic Games will create an environment where young people, especially athletes, will receive support, will be encouraged to take ownership of their ideas, initiatives and responsibilities and will be empowered to make a difference in their communities. Young people are engaged in contributing ideas for Singapore 2010 and are given opportunities to take ownership in organizing events in support and in celebration of Singapore 2010. An example of that is the Singapore 2010 CAN! festivals. “CAN!” stands for “Create. Action. Now!” Through the Singapore 2010 CAN! festivals, young people have been entrusted with planning and organizing quarterly festivals, each with a theme, namely culture and heritage, digital media, environment, and the arts. Youth have also been active in other capacities, such as volunteering, administrative support and participating in the many Singapore 2010 CAN! events. Singapore is a young nation infused with a myriad of cultural colours and societal textures. That provides a good backdrop and environment for cross- cultural learning and understanding. Similar to the Vancouver XXI Olympic Winter Games and X Paralympic Winter Games, the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games aim to promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. What Singapore hopes to achieve at the end of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games is to be successful in inspiring young people around the world and sowing the seeds of those Olympic values and for the youth to begin to live by them, if they do not already do so. In closing, allow me to relate a story to illustrate how youth can help or contribute to building a better and peaceful world through sport. John Ian Wing was a 17-year-old Chinese- Australian student living in Melbourne. He was immensely troubled by the tensions during the 1956 Melbourne Games. A near riot had broken out during the USSR-Hungary water polo competition, tainted by the Suez Canal Crisis and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Hungary. Wing sent an anonymous letter to the Melbourne Organizing Committee, suggesting that all athletes walk freely as one nation in the closing ceremony, contrary to the tradition of marching by nation. To his surprise, his idea of “One World, One Nation” was implemented. Today, he is still lauded for his role in promoting peace and global unity.

The Republic of Korea wholeheartedly supports the draft resolution being considered under agenda item “Sport for peace and development: building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”. Sport is a powerful tool to bring diverse groups together under the spirit and values enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The biannual Olympics, Paralympic Games and the World Cup are leading examples of this interaction. Last year’s Summer Olympic Games in Beijing were a success, and my delegation is proud that the Games took place in Asia. The Republic of Korea, as host of the Olympics in 1988, knows how important hosting the Games is to Member States, and we congratulate China’s achievement in this regard. My delegation would like to also congratulate Canada and voice our support for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games as a continuation of the successful manifestation of international cooperation and development through sport. Furthermore, we hope that Member States will uphold the Olympic Truce and lend their valuable backing to the initiative of sport and human development during the build-up to and duration of the Games. My delegation welcomes the full recognition of the increasingly important role of sport in achieving internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, as stated in the draft resolution. While sport alone cannot pave the way for peace and social development, it can be an effective tool when used in conjunction with other existing programmes and initiatives. In this regard, my delegation notes the many positive ways sport can contribute to the Millennium Development Goals, as reflected in the Secretary-General’s report on sport for development and peace (A/63/466). As a contribution to that cause, the Republic of Korea has actively engaged in global sports events by hosting the Olympics and the World Cup. In the coming years we will also host the 2011 World Track and Field Championship, the 2014 Asian Games and the 2015 Summer Universiade. We also hope to host the Winter Olympics in 2018 and the World Cup in 2022 and have made official bids for both events. The Republic of Korea also considers it important to contribute to increased international cooperation in promoting sports for development. For example, we have initiated various programmes for supporting athletic activities both in our region and in other regions. Such programmes include Vision 2014, which is designed to assist sports projects of other countries in the Asian region for the period from 2007 to 2014, and the Dream Program to promote young athletes in winter games worldwide for the period from 2004 to 2010. Lastly, the Republic of Korea lends its support to draft resolution A/64/L.3, on the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We congratulate South Africa and emphatically back its preparations to host the World Cup. That upcoming Cup is an historic occasion, as it marks the first time that the pre-eminent football tournament will be played on African soil. Having successfully co-hosted the 2002 tournament alongside Japan — which was the first and only time the World Cup has come to Asia — my delegation fully understands the significance that the tournament will have in advancing the international recognition, development, tourism in and prestige of Africa. We are looking forward to a successful competition that will not only help further the global spirit of competitiveness and sport at the highest level but will also serve as an invaluable opportunity to promote unity, solidarity, peace and reconciliation and preventive campaigns against scourges such as HIV/AIDS that affect the youth of the continent. The Republic of Korea will remain a strong advocate for the principle of sport for development and peace and will continue to contribute to the realization of the ideals of the Olympics and sport.

To many, sports can serve merely as exercise. But in a global context, sports serve as a common language that can foster international friendship and harmony. A competitive sporting experience between people transcends our differences and reminds us that as human beings we have far more that binds us together than draws us apart. From dusty soccer fields to the Olympic stage, people from diverse backgrounds, religions, cultures and races can join together in a common cause, in a shared experience. In the words of the Olympic Charter, sports and friendly competition can “contribute to building a peaceful and better world”. In our region, we seek to harness the spirit of sports to forge relationships and build bridges between peoples and cultures through an active network of organizations that use the medium of sports to promote peace and coexistence. All over the world, when two rival soccer teams prepare to play, we can easily imagine a battle about to unfold. Yet the Abu Ghosh- Mevaseret Zion soccer club is a shining example of how a so-called battleground can become a field of coexistence. The Abu Ghosh-Mevaseret Zion team is an Arab- Jewish soccer club named after the towns on the western outskirts of Jerusalem. The project sought the support of the city councils of both Abu Ghosh and Mevaseret Zion in order to build widespread public interest in the project. The team is managed by a joint Arab-Jewish board and trains hundreds of children from diverse backgrounds. This soccer club is but one example of how private citizens can use the medium of sports to set aside differences, foster integration and develop trust. This example shows that through concerted efforts on the ground a brighter future is possible. Another success story is the sports programme of the Peres Center for Peace, which brings young Israelis and Palestinians together to learn from one another and to develop cross-cultural ties. A wide array of programmes touches the lives of over 10,000 children as they utilize sports to encourage solidarity, respect and interaction. The flagship programme of the Center’s sports-related work is the Twinned Peace Sport Schools project. Launched in 2002, the programme pairs Israeli and Palestinian communities as it offers weekly sports training, peace education and inter-language learning. The programme engages 1,600 disadvantaged Palestinian and Israeli young people who would not otherwise have such an opportunity to play sports or to meet and learn from others. Those successes — which are mere examples among many others — should indicate what can be achieved through sports. Unfortunately, not all sporting events are carried out in the same spirit. Earlier this year, Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer was denied a visa in order to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships. While Israel commends the firm resolve displayed by the Women’s Tennis Association, as well as by those affiliates and sponsors of the event who acted in the face of such politicized prejudice, the episode reflects a dangerous trend to politicize the world of sports. In a moment that reminds us of the hatred that can permeate the world of sports, we recall the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where gunmen from the terrorist group Black September broke into the Olympic Village and killed 11 Israeli athletes, coaches and referees. The reverberations of that abhorrent and monstrous act of terrorism are still felt in Israel and around the world to this very day. As the world seeks to solve the most intractable challenges related to peace and development, we must find new, dynamic ways of confronting difficulties and of building bridges between people. The use of sports to promote a culture of peace and development can be effective. Yet sports cannot achieve such goals alone. The support and involvement of the media and civil society are needed for sports to be an effective vehicle for peace and development. Israel strongly supports that concept and calls on all Member States to use the opportunities provided by sports to ensure the widest appeal. In that spirit, Israel is pleased to join as a sponsor of resolutions A/64/L.2 and A/64/L.3, “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”, and “2010 International Federation of Association Football World Cup event”, respectively.

My name is Wellington Webb, and I am privileged to serve on the United States delegation to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, at the invitation of my friend President Obama. Having served as Mayor of Denver, Colorado, I have long supported the United States Olympic Committee, which has its headquarters in Colorado. Therefore, I am pleased to speak on behalf of the United States today on the topic of building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal. The Olympic movement’s fundamental goals have been to serve society, to place sport at the service of humanity and to promote peaceful societies committed to the preservation of human dignity. The United States was pleased to co-sponsor the draft resolution adopted earlier today (resolution 64/3) inviting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate in the General Assembly as an observer. In many resolutions over the years, Member States have called for United Nations system-wide cooperation with the IOC to implement projects using sport as a tool for peacebuilding, human development, humanitarian relief and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The offer of observer status to the IOC recognizes the potential of sport to inspire us to pursue the goals and ideals of international understanding, security and prosperity, as envisioned in the United Nations Charter. Over the years, the IOC has signed memorandums of understanding with 15 United Nations specialized agencies and programmes and cooperates with another 10. In May 2006, the Secretary-General formalized the working relationship that had already developed between the IOC and some United Nations peacekeeping missions to apply sport, too, in rebuilding confidence between parties coming out of conflict. The United States is also pleased to co-sponsor today’s draft resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal” (A/64/L.2), which proclaims an Olympic truce for the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games, to be held at Vancouver, Canada, in February. We have co-sponsored similar resolutions on nine occasions since 1993. The Olympic Truce promotes international understanding on the basis of the principle that sports can inspire peace. Since the beginning of the ancient Games in 776 B.C., athletic competition has helped transcend our differences. The central purpose of the Truce has been to bring people together and to permit the safe passage and participation of all concerned with the Games. The International Olympic Truce Foundation, established by the IOC, promotes global support for and observance of the Olympic Truce. It encourages all to act in favour of peace and to mobilize young people for the promotion of the Olympic ideal, establishes contacts between communities in conflict and offers humanitarian support in countries undergoing strife. Today, the United States delegation is also pleased to be among the sponsors of draft resolution A/64/L.3, entitled “2010 International Federation of Association Football World Cup event” and introduced by the delegation of South Africa. The year 2010 will mark the first time that a sports event on such a scale has taken place in Africa. My delegation is particularly pleased that the United States team will be among those competing. The attention of the United States will be all the greater in enhancing the 2010 World Cup’s legacy of sport for peace and development in Africa. At Vancouver next February, athletes will set aside their political, religious and social differences and compete on a level playing field in the pursuit of excellence. As President Obama noted just a few weeks ago, in a world where we all too often witness the darker aspects of our humanity, peaceful competition between nations represents what is best about our humanity. The theme of sport for peace and development is of great importance to the United States, even in non-Olympic years. The United States welcomes the establishment of the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace. More and more people around the world understand the value of such efforts. Sports United is a United States diplomatic outreach programme to start a dialogue at the grass- roots level with boys and girls abroad. It aids young people in discovering how success in athletics can be translated into the development of life skills and achievement in the classroom. Those young people establish links with United States sports professionals and gain exposure to American life and culture. Young athletes and coaches are invited to the United States to learn about sports in America. American athletes and coaches go abroad to conduct clinics in sport to stress team-building, education, positive health and respect for all. Americans learn about foreign cultures and the challenges that young people overseas face today. Our discussions today remind the world of the importance of preparing for the forthcoming Games in spirit as well as in body. Sport is not simply an end in itself; it should also serve as a means to promote peace and to educate the youth of the world.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on agenda item 45. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolutions A/64/L.2, and A/64/L.3 as orally revised. The Assembly will first take a decision on draft resolution A/64/L.2, entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”. I should like to announce that since the draft resolution was issued, the following countries have become sponsors: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Colombia, the Comoros, the Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Finland, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, the Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/64/L.2?

The General Assembly will now proceed to take a decision on draft resolution A/64/L.3, entitled “2010 International Federation of Association Football World Cup event”. The following countries have joined the list of sponsors of the draft resolution: Botswana, Cape Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Norway, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia and Uganda. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/64/L.3, as orally revised?

The General Assembly has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of agenda item 45. The meeting rose at 5 p.m.