General Assembly Session 58 meeting 52

The President

I call on Mr. Abderrahim Zouari, Minister of Sport of Tunisia, to introduce draft resolution A/58/L.2.

Mr. Zouari (Tunisia)

It is my distinct pleasure once again to convey to you, Sir, Tunisia's congratulations on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at this session, in which I wish you every success. Allow me to read out the statement of Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of the Republic of Tunisia, to the General Assembly on the International Year of Sport and Physical Education:

"A few weeks ago, the international community celebrated the United Nations International Day of Peace. This was an opportunity to renew our commitment to the core principles of the United Nations Charter, including the establishment and consolidation of peace, security and development, and to the means of achieving those objectives. This is particularly true in the current sensitive international situation, which requires keeping the Organization's activities and instruments up to date.

"That is the context for the desired aspect of sport as an influential factor in the life of our societies, along with their political and economic aspects. To be sure, sport today is a school of life, the beneficial impact of which is not confined solely to health and physical well-being, but extends to the acquisition of values that are necessary to social cohesion, the establishment of relations, the consolidation of friendships, and the enrichment of dialogue among races, cultures and civilizations.

"It is also within that context that Tunisia has taken the initiative of submitting to the General Assembly the draft resolution contained in document A/58/L.2. This debate provides us with an excellent opportunity to convey our sincere thanks and appreciation to the General Assembly for having unanimously decided at the last session to include on its agenda an item related to this draft resolution. The draft is a working tool that will contribute to achieving internationally-agreed development goals, including those set forth in the Millennium Declaration, aimed at achieving further solidarity and cooperation and at disseminating a culture of peace.

"The objectives of the draft resolution are commensurate with Kofi Annan's decision to create a position of Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace. The establishment of that post reflects his personal commitment to promoting sport and physical education and his belief in their influence on and importance to the growth of young people and the life of our societies. It also confirms the increasing attention being focused by the United Nations on this area, as evidenced by the Millennium Development Goals and the guidelines of the United Nations specialized agencies, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as other entities. We believe that the educational aspects of the draft resolution before us are in keeping with the goals established by the International Olympic Committee when it called for the slogan 'culture and Olympic education' to be the watchword for 2003.

"We in Tunisia have always sought to ensure that sport and physical education hold a fundamental place in our educational system, for they contribute to physical, psychological and social balance and strengthen our country's development process. We have also striven to instil sporting values and the Olympic spirit in our new generations at all educational, professional and civil levels and to base relations between our athletes and others worldwide on mutual respect and harmony in order to strengthen the bonds of mutual acquaintance, friendship and tolerance among all humankind.

"In its dedication to this approach, Tunisia is working to reify these values by adopting a comprehensive education, social and development policy that defines sport and physical education as useful training and supervisory tools in the dissemination of education, health, development and peace. This noble concept of sport has prompted us to join our efforts to those of the international community to make sport an instrument for promoting peace and development worldwide; to guarantee the right of all children and young people of all ages and in all countries to practice sport and physical education; to help them draw the best possible physical and mental health benefits from this practice; and to make sport an effective tool for promoting development and consolidating peace throughout the world, especially in the least developed countries, where basic infrastructure and sport facilities are insufficiently varied and developed.

"The noble education, ethical, social and development principles and goals reflected in the draft resolution before us strengthen our belief that it will enjoy the support of all States, reinforce the status of sport and physical education in all countries and strengthen their role in the consolidation of development and peace, thereby allowing us to give the world's youth genuine grounds for hope."

It is now my pleasure, on behalf of its 78 sponsors, to present the draft resolution entitled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace", contained in document A/58/L.2. The draft resolution was the subject of consultations and deliberations, beginning with the debate held by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 10 January 2003. A number of changes have been made to the text by several countries and regional and subregional organizations and within the United Nations system. I thank all of them and appreciate their interest in the draft resolution, which they have enriched.

In particular, I thank Mr. Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, for his efforts to promote the draft. Allow me also to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, for his tireless efforts to support Olympic principles.

The draft resolution, in its preambular part, recalls the goals and hopes that our countries place in sport and physical education, along with a number of treaties, conventions and reports that highlight the role of sport and its educational and civilizational role, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other documents of the General Assembly on children, the UNESCO Charter, the 2000 Dakar Framework and several other agreements.

The draft resolution calls on Governments, the United Nations and other relevant organizations to strengthen the status of sport and physical education in their development policies and to include them as a working tool to achieve development goals, solidarity and cooperation and to promote a culture of peace, dialogue, rapprochement and love among peoples. It also calls on Governments, international sport bodies and sport-related organizations to elaborate and implement partnership initiatives and development projects to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It further invites Governments to assist developing countries in their capacity-building efforts in sport and physical education. The draft resolution elaborates a series of procedures whereby sport and physical education can help to achieve a peaceful world and the Olympic ideal. It further stresses the need to implement international anti-doping agreements in all sporting activities.

The many positive elements of the draft resolution reflect the extreme importance of this international issue. That is why we have accorded a special place to sport and physical education in the draft, which is a keystone document that will offer new prospects and enrich partnership and cooperation for their promotion. We hope that the International Year of Sport and Physical Education and its broad range of activities will help us to achieve the goals elaborated in the draft resolution.

Tunisia has prepared a preliminary programme in this context and hopes to submit it for discussion. Its elements, including an anti-doping campaign, will help us to achieve all the hopes of the international community with respect to sustainable development. We also believe that sport and physical education could be a tool for the United Nations Environment Programme to achieve its noble goals.

Allow me also to note Tunisia's support for the initiative on the Olympic Truce. The Tunisian and Greek delegations have closely cooperated with a view to ensuring complementarity between that initiative and our draft on the basis of our conviction that sport, physical education and the Olympic principles also serve the same objectives.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Tunisian delegation and all the other co-sponsors, we express the hope that the draft resolution will enjoy the unanimous support of the General Assembly.

The President

I now call on Mr. George Papandreou, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, to introduce draft resolution A/58/L.9.

Mr. Papandreou (Greece)

It is a great honour for me to take the floor on agenda item 23 (a) in order to introduce the draft resolution entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal".

The responsibility for this draft resolution traditionally lies with the country hosting the Olympic Games. As members know, less than a year from now Greece will have the privilege of celebrating the homecoming of the greatest peace gathering of our time. The occasion of the 2004 Athens Olympics provides a unique opportunity to rekindle the ancient Greek tradition of Olympic Truce. We want to encourage the notion that it is possible to create lasting peace from a pause in hostilities.

Promoting peace was, in fact, the actual reason why the Olympic Games were originally established. In antiquity, the implementation of the Olympic Truce entailed a cessation of all hostilities in order to allow thousands of athletes, pilgrims and spectators to travel to Olympia to attend this 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 peace treaty in history.

Bringing the Olympic Truce back to life offers a constructive new approach to conflict resolution. The United Nations, and in particular Secretary-General Kofi Annan, have long championed the value of peaceful cooperation through sport. Since 1993, this Assembly has unanimously adopted six resolutions championing the cause of the Olympic Truce. In that spirit, the Millennium Declaration, adopted in New York in September 2000 by more than 150 Heads of State and Government, included a paragraph on the promotion of peace and mutual understanding through the Olympic Truce. Today's draft resolution, like those before it, calls upon all Member States to observe the Olympic Truce. It is a symbolic call to break the cycle of violence for 16 days during the Olympics and, hopefully, beyond.

Today, that message could not be more relevant, given the current climate of global insecurity. In our increasingly interdependent yet fractured world, violent conflicts in another part of the world can have serious repercussions in our own neighbourhood. The path to peace must be through mutual understanding, respect and cooperation between cultures, religions and civilizations. The Olympic Truce not only embodies all these values, it provides a means of putting them into practice at the global level. Truce can be a useful tool for diplomacy by providing a vital opportunity for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the promotion of a culture of peace through dialogue and education.

Making the Olympic Truce a reality in the modern world is a challenging endeavour. To some, it may even seem like a utopian dream. These are difficult times -- times of instability and injustice. We have no illusions as to what we can achieve through the Olympic Truce; it is not a universal remedy that will miraculously heal the rifts that ravage so many regions of the world, but surely, if we can stop even a single conflict, it is worth the effort. While limited in duration, the Olympic Truce can offer an invaluable opportunity for reconciliation, as well as provide respite for the suffering populations in the world's many war zones. By bringing people together across borders and beliefs, regardless of race or creed, it opens up the prospect for longer-lasting peace.

It is an honour that the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. Jacques Rogge, is with us today and will give us an address at a later stage in the debate. He and his predecessor, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and the IOC in its totality have continuously promoted the ideal of the Olympic Truce, becoming an inspiration for us all. Here in this Hall, I would also like to thank all the countries that have so enthusiastically embraced this initiative and expressed their support by sponsoring the draft resolution. By this morning, the number of sponsors had reached 189, but the final country, Kiribati, has signed on and we have now reached the unprecedented number, as I am told, of 190 sponsors. This means that the draft resolution is endorsed by the totality of the States Members of the United Nations.

Allow me also to thank the many personalities from around the world -- 400 in all -- who, in their personal capacities, have signed a special statement on promoting the Olympic Truce. Amongst them are world leaders, heads of State and Government, foreign ministers, religious leaders, leaders from the business community and, of course, leaders from the Olympic movement itself. Only yesterday and the day before, the two latest signatures came from President Lula of Brazil and President Toledo of Peru.

A few moments ago, my colleague, the Minister of Sport of Tunisia, took the floor to introduce the draft resolution entitled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace". Greece has wholeheartedly co-sponsored that draft resolution. It is vital for the international community to recognize the role sport can play in all dimensions of development.

As host of the 2004 Olympics, Greece has an acute sense of its responsibility to promote the Olympic ideals. We hope that, next summer, Athens will be a beacon of world peace. To meet that challenge, we look to all of Members for not only for support, but also for guidance. We can be educators by example, so let us reaffirm our commitment to the spirit of peaceful cooperation upon which the Olympics were founded. Let us lay the building blocks of peace one by one, with patience, perseverance and great care. Let us send a symbolic message from this international body of peace to our citizens and the younger generations of the world for a peaceful Olympics and, ultimately, for a more peaceful world. Let us prove that it is possible. For, while conflicts in the world will not cease overnight, if we could have peace for 16 days, then maybe -- just maybe -- we could have it forever.

Crown Prince Albert (Monaco)

The General Assembly today is jointly considering two issues that are particularly dear to my heart: "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace". The Monaco delegation is a co-sponsor of the two draft resolutions on these topics.

On 25 October 1993, at the initiative of Egypt -- at that time chairing the Organization of Africa Unity -- the General Assembly adopted resolution 48/11 by which it revived the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce. I call this to mind because Africa continues to offer the world many of its greatest athletes and because it can demonstrate that sport has a fundamental role to play in the service of development and peace.

I was privileged to participate as an athlete in five Winter Olympic Games. The most accomplished athletes recognize that the Olympic competition is quite distinct. In addition to striving in an exemplary manner for one's best performance, one has the honour of representing one's country in the world's greatest peaceful, sporting and cultural gathering. In the age of the information society, the Olympic Games represent a showcase open to the entire world. The memory of Korean athletes parading under the single flag of the Korean peninsula at the Sydney Games in 2000 gives us hope for an entire nation and for all the champions of peace.

Tunisia's initiative "Sport for peace and development: International Year of Sport and Physical Education" is especially timely. Indeed, the Inter-agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace -- mandated by the Secretary-General in 2002 to review activities involving sport within the United Nations system and to promote the more systematic and coherent use of sport in development and peace activities -- released the report on its work in August. I pay tribute to the work of the Task Force, which presents sport as a human right and highlights it as a driving force for development and peace and a key element in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The report confirms, perhaps redundantly, that the practice of sport is essential to the development of the individual. It should be part of a health regime and a philosophy of life. The practice of sport, however, is much more than that. Sport erases social barriers by making us equal in the face of physical effort. It brings different languages and cultures into contact and brings human beings together, becoming a means of communication and exchange of such essential values as tolerance and perseverance.

Physical education should be accorded its rightful place in educational systems so as to teach boys and girls alike, at the earliest possible age, to relate to others, respect rules and value effort. Disabled athletes, through their resolve, perseverance and performance, teach us the same lesson. At the same time, we must ensure that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is applied to young athletes whose physical and psychological fragility must be duly taken into account.

The quest to go beyond oneself, in fraternity and with respect for others, is truly a school of life. The recently established International Olympic Truce Foundation and the International Olympic Truce Centre can and should contribute to disseminating those values. This formidable potential must be exploited. At a time when conflicts persist and the world is disoriented by terrorism, sporting activities can serve as a bridge between peoples, permit dialogue among diverse cultures and rekindle hope.

Sport is also the mirror of our societies. The Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance recently denounced the rise of racist physical and verbal violence in sport. We must unite against such unacceptable attitudes, which are contrary to the spirit of sport. In that regard, the initiative of the Union of European Football Associations to distribute an anti-racism guidebook to help the football community to counter that evil should be welcomed.

Another scourge undermining the practice of sport is doping. Like narcotic drug use, doping is a gangrene that must be fought energetically and in exemplary fashion in every sporting activity. On 10 September, the Principality of Monaco signed the Council of Europe's anti-doping Convention and its additional protocol, as well as the European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sports Events. It also signed the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping in Sport, whereby the main sporting federations and almost 80 Governments approved the World Anti-Doping Code on 5 March. We fervently hope that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will be able to adopt the draft international anti-doping convention for all sporting activities before the twentieth Winter Olympic Games, to take place in Turin in 2006.

When the States Members of the United Nations, at the initiative of the International Olympic Committee, called 10 years ago for the revival of the Olympic Truce, we committed ourselves to promoting peace and dialogue. That tradition had been respected for more than 1,200 years in the ancient world. I therefore call on all combatants, whatever their underlying motives, to lay down their weapons and to work together with their enemies to find peaceful ways to end their disputes so that the twenty-eighth Olympiad, to take place in August in Athens, Greece -- the cradle of the Olympic movement -- can mark the rebirth of that tradition.

The almost unanimous sponsorship of the appeal for the Olympic Truce by the States represented in the General Assembly commits us, above and beyond its symbolism, to uniting in order to not to disappoint the peoples of the United Nations.

Mr. Staehelin (Switzerland)

Allow me to begin by expressing my delegation's pleasure at seeing the issue of sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace being debated by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. My country also welcomes the fact that the draft resolution on that issue is being discussed in parallel with the draft entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal".

Those two texts are complementary and in the same spirit. If Member States encouraged their citizens to take a greater part in physical activities, not only would humanity be in better physical condition, but the world would certainly be a more peaceful place. Sport actually offers an ideal means for developing discipline, self-confidence and the qualities of leadership. Sport also teaches the fundamental principles of humanity, such as tolerance, cooperation and respect.

At the initiative of Mr. Adolf Ogi, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace and former President of the Swiss Confederation, who is here with us today, my country organized the Macolin Conference last February. It mobilized key partners from different sectors supporting the new notion of "sport for development" and increased public awareness of the important role that sport can play in cooperation towards development and peace. The Macolin Declaration was adopted by over 380 representatives of 55 countries.

Switzerland welcomes the Declaration as an appeal to Governments, the United Nations system, sport-related institutions, non-governmental organizations, the sporting industry, the media and public at large to encourage human, social, political and economic development through sport.

The Macolin Declaration and its recommendations have been a source of inspiration for the United Nations Inter-agency Task-Force on Sport for Development and Peace, led by Mr. Ogi and the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, Ms. Carol Bellamy. Last September, the working group presented the Secretary-General with its final report, entitled "Sport for Peace and Development: Towards Achieving the Millennium Development Goals".

The facts highlighted in the report are evident. On a global scale, physical inactivity directly accounts for 1.9 million deaths and indirectly contributes to sickness and death due to arterial hypertension, high cholesterol levels and obesity. It is estimated that every dollar spent towards physical activity could save $3.20's worth of medical expenses. Sport is a catalyst for economic development. On a global scale, the sporting industry is valued at about $36 billion, with an estimated annual increase of 3 to 5 per cent.

On the other hand, it also tells us that children aged 6 to 12 who take part in at least five hours of physical activity per week get better grades than those who take part in less than one hour per week. Studies in 126 countries show physical education's nearly universal marginalization. Why? Physical education is often considered to be a non-productive or non-intellectual activity and, consequently, not essential to education.

Sports can also contribute to breaking down social barriers and can serve as an effective tool in conflict prevention, thereby contributing to peace. Consequently, sports should be better integrated into development programmes.

The aim of the draft resolution being discussed today is to encourage Governments, sports-related organizations and non-governmental organizations to strengthen their cooperation in the areas of sports and development and also to encourage the United Nations to develop strategic partnerships with all actors in this field, including with sports associations and bodies and the private sector, in order to contribute to the implementation of sports programmes for development.

As host to the International Olympic Committee and several other world sports associations headquarters, Switzerland fully supports the idea of an international year for sport and physical education.

Mr. Zhang Yishan (China)

Sport, being a common language of humankind, is an important factor in the promotion of peace and development. Since ancient times, sport has transcended racial and cultural differences and has given expression to humankind's aspiration to, and pursuit of, a peaceful and better world, as evidenced in the Olympic spirit, which came into being more than 2,000 years ago.

Since Mr. Pierre de Coubertin founded the modern Olympic Games at the end of the 19th century, the peoples of the world have remained unshaken in their resolve to pursue the Olympic ideal. The founding of the United Nations and the establishment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, while contributing to the maintenance of world peace and social development, also facilitated the spread and further development of the Olympic spirit.

The Chinese delegation believes that in the twenty-first century, countries of the world should continue to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and actively advocate the Olympic spirit, so as to enhance dialogue and exchanges among civilizations and to promote steady global economic and social progress.

Sport and physical education are activities undertaken in the context of humankind's ceaseless pursuit of the Olympic ideal. Sport not only builds one's physique but also teaches communication, cooperation, respect for others and acceptance of failure. As such, it is an important medium for strengthening ties among different civilizations as well as their common values.

We support consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 23 entitled "International Year of Sport and Physical Education" during this session of the General Assembly and would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Tunisia for its initiative in this regard.

The Government and the people of China have always admired the purposes and principles of the Olympic spirit and supported the efforts made in the context of the Olympics to promote world peace. Even as we speak, the Chinese Government and the Chinese people are doing their utmost to prepare for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, in hopes of making it a grand gathering that will carry forward the Olympic spirit, promote world peace and enhance friendship among peoples of the world, so that the Olympic spirit will flourish once again, this time in China, an oriental country with an ancient civilization.

The XXVIII Olympiad will be held next year in Athens, Greece. It is of great significance that the Olympic Games will be returning to their place of origin after more than 100 years. We wholeheartedly wish the Athens Olympics every success.

Finally, allow me to conclude my statement with a quotation from the address by Foreign Minister Papandreou of Greece in this year's general debate:

"Let us reaffirm our commitment to the spirit of peaceful cooperation upon which the Olympics were founded. Let us send a symbolic message from this international body of peace for a peaceful Olympics and, ultimately, for a more peaceful world." (A/58/PV.13, p. 28)

Mr. Mekel (Israel)

The Government of Israel is proud to lend its support to the draft resolution entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal", and would like also to take this opportunity to congratulate Greece, the host country of the 2004 Olympic Games.

Israel is of the view that athletic competition, undertaken in a spirit of mutual respect, fairness and good sportsmanship, is an ideal way to foster goodwill and good relations between peoples. The values of sports are universal and transcend national boundaries; they provide a medium through which diverse peoples can interact and promote greater understanding of one another.

In our own region, we have tried to harness the power of sports to forge relationships and to build bridges across the dark waters of conflict. We hope that these types of competitions will continue to develop and expand in the future.

The Olympic Games, as the world's premier sporting event, have long been one of the primary meeting points for nations divided by politics or geography. In that respect, we support the observance of the Olympic Truce, as an expression of our common yearning for peace and reconciliation, and we hope that all Member States will join together in ensuring that peace and security prevail for the duration of the Games.

Unfortunately, for the people of Israel, the idea of the Olympic Games cannot be separated from the memory of the horrific act that tarnished the 1972 Games in Munich, when gunmen from the terrorist group Black September broke into the Olympic Village disguised as athletes and killed 11 Israeli athletes, coaches and referees.

That disgraceful act of terrorism and murder, unprecedented in the annals of Olympic history, is the very antithesis of the Olympic ideal. The Games, rather than being allowed to transcend politics and conflict, were used as a vehicle for the expression of hatred and the perpetration of murder.

That blemish on the history of the Games must not be forgotten, as we strive to ensure that future Olympic events serve to broaden understanding, deepen tolerance and respect, and promote peace. The prominence of a movement is reflected not only in its endeavours but also in its capacity to mourn those of its members who have perished for the principles it wishes to promote. It is therefore unfortunate that, still today, the International Olympic Committee has not found an appropriate manner to officially observe the memory of the fallen Israeli athletes.

Israel reaffirms its support for the noble objectives of the draft resolution and for the observance of the Olympic Truce. The Olympic Games is one of the world's only truly global events, and as such presents us with an extraordinary opportunity to focus the world's attention and utilize the good will that the Games inspire to build a more peaceful and more harmonious world.

Mr. Mavroyiannis (Cyprus)

It gives me great pleasure to address the Assembly today on the issue of the Olympic Truce, that is to say, the idea that humankind can achieve a universally conflict-free environment, even for a limited period of time. The warmest congratulations must be extended to the impressive and laudable efforts made by the Foreign Minister of Greece, Mr. George Papandreou, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Jacques Rogge, to make this endeavour a reality.

I wish very briefly to reiterate Cyprus's strong support for the concept of the Olympic Truce, which could be the prelude to a world free of hate, armed conflict and acts of aggression, as described in the comprehensive draft resolution (A/58/L.9) that has been introduced by Greece and will serve as a decisive milestone in our efforts to move in that direction.

In the same spirit, we welcome the draft resolution (A/58/L.2) submitted by Tunisia under the same agenda item, which appropriately draws attention to the intimate link between sport, peace and development. Particularly auspicious are the references to the contribution of physical education to the welfare of children and to the need to intensify efforts to combat doping on an international level and utilize sport as a means to enhance health awareness and build a culture of peace.

Sport, peace, culture, humanism and respect for universal ethical principles are indeed the quintessential ideals of Olympism. The invaluable contribution of the Olympic Games to the human spirit and to civilization has been evident since the Games were first held in 776 BC at the sacred site of Olympia in honour of the Olympian God Zeus. Cyprus is proud to have been part of the Olympic ideal since its inception, with Cypriot athletes consistently competing in the Games at Olympia.

The sacred tradition of ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, was also born in the eighth century BC and lasted for twelve centuries. It was observed for 7 days before the beginning, and 7 days after the end, of the Games, in order to allow athletes, spectators and all others to safely travel to and from Olympia. The Olympic Truce was the incarnation of the lofty ideals enshrined in the Olympic Games.

I would like unreservedly to support the appeal enshrined in the Millennium Declaration to observe the Olympic Truce as a matter of tradition. In that way, each country organizing the Olympic Games in the future could make it an imperative for the Truce to be honoured in every Olympiad by introducing the present draft resolution into the General Assembly on a biennial basis before the holding of both the winter and summer Games.

While the rationale for the excellent draft resolution we have before us has to do with conflict conditions significantly different from those that prevailed in antiquity, the aspiration of humankind remains remarkably similar, namely, the termination of all acts of hostility as well as the peaceful settlement of international conflicts. What has eluded us for so long is achievable, even if briefly, and, even under hostile circumstances, what unites us can be stronger than the reasons for fighting each other. This first step can greatly contribute to the creation of an irresistible dynamic for peace and reconciliation and for the search of means other than war and violence to resolve differences. Indeed, the educational value of teaching through good example is at the very heart of the philosophy of Olympism.

As a demonstration of our inherent belief in the unifying power of all manifestations of culture, and especially sports, I would like, on behalf of my Government, to wish the very best to everyone involved in the realization of this ambitious project.

Mr. Aguilera (Cuba)

My delegation is honoured to welcome the two draft resolutions (A/58/L.2 and A/58/L.9) being considered by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session under sub-items (a) and (b) -- entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and "International Year of Sport and Physical Education", respectively -- of agenda item 23, entitled "Sport for peace and development".

To everyone's satisfaction, the draft resolution (A/58/L.9) entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal", which was introduced by the representative of Greece, as the country hosting the next Olympic Games, restores the essential element removed from the previous resolution on the subject by urging all Member States to observe the Olympic Truce during the Games that will be held from 13 to 29 August 2004 and to use the Truce as an instrument to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation during the Games and thereafter. We are pleased that 190 countries have now become sponsors of the draft resolution.

The second draft resolution (A/58/L.2), entitled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace", which was introduced by the representative of Tunisia, focuses on the importance of physical education and sport as ways of promoting peace, development and friendly relations among nations. At the same time, the draft resolution aims at accelerating the drafting of an international anti-doping convention and proclaims the year 2005 the International Year of Sport and Physical Education as a means of promoting peace and development.

My delegation reaffirms that sport and the Olympic ideal undoubtedly contribute to strengthening friendship and brotherhood among peoples, which are vital elements in the promotion of development, peace and cooperation among nations.

Cuba welcomes the fact that the 2004 Olympic Games will be held in Athens, Greece, where the Olympiad originated and where the tradition of declaring the Olympic Truce began. The delegation of Cuba trusts that those Olympic Games will follow the path of comradeship in sport in a spirit of healthy competition devoid of cheating, excessive commercialization, doping or the kidnapping of athletes. My delegation hopes that this event will mark an important step forward in the history of the international sports movement. Cuban athletes are working with rigour and dedication to prepare themselves for participation in this new Olympic cycle, in keeping with the high level that Cuban sport has achieved in recent years.

It is regrettable that some of our athletes will not be able to go to Athens for reasons having nothing to do with sport. This is true of the Cuban national archery team, which was prevented from taking part in the world championship of that discipline in New York in July of this year -- a classifying competition for the great event -- when visas were denied to two members of the group in outright violation of the Olympic Charter. This is not an isolated event.

I would remind you that in just under 11 months, United States visas have been denied to 39 Cuban athletes who were due to participate in various international events, including the World Cup Wrestling Championship held in Boise, Idaho in April 2003. The sporting sphere has not escaped being caught in the net of measures that make up the economic, trade and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba, something that has been vigorously rejected by the international community.

Sport in Cuba is a right of the people and is free of charge. Today more than 1.5 million citizens regularly engage in sports or physical exercise under the guidance of a professional. More than 2 million children, teenagers and young students are taught physical education and sports by their teachers. For the elderly, pregnant women and other groups of citizens, physical exercise means good health, a longer life and a better quality of life.

In our country over the years, more than 30,000 people have earned a degree to teach physical education and sports. Eight thousand Cuban sports professionals and trainers have provided services in dozens of countries, whose athletes have, on occasion, then competed and won against our athletes. Moreover, the Cuban Government is helping to bolster sports in countries of the third world. Evidence of this is provided by the International School of Physical Education and Sport, whose students are young people from more than 50 such countries and who will graduate as qualified professionals in various areas of sport.

President Fidel Castro has said,

"Sport is well-being. It is a standard of living, it is health, it is joy and honour for the people, and is perhaps the most effective instrument to combat criminal tendencies, drugs and many other vices that beset modern societies."

In the sphere of sport, cooperation, respect and equality must prevail, and not the globalization of injustice and inequality. Given this, we shall be able to advance towards the genuine Olympic idea.

Mr. Aboul Gheit (Egypt)

Mankind needs today, more than ever before, to make strenuous efforts to achieve harmony among peoples and international peace and security based on justice and equality in rights and duties.

In the context of this constant effort, we must have recourse to history to inform us and prove to us the possibility of conciliation and harmony among all peoples on Earth.

The Greeks and all other ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Romans and Arabs, have offered enriching contributions to our world. I mention in particular the philosophy of unifying people through an organized Olympics, under a flag whose circles symbolize peace and unity among all peoples and continents.

Today, more than ever, we need to promote the value of peace. The world is divided between opponents and supporters of wars and conflicts that affect all continents and races. The gap is increasing between the rich and the poor; diseases are devastating the poor, who have no one to help them, and civilizations and religions are not converging, but diverging. In the midst of all of this, sports will remain the single most ideal environment where barriers can be ignored and hatred among enemies can be left behind.

Every four years, the world is united during the Olympics and everyone perceives the lack of differences among people. The new generation is optimistic, owing to the spirit of tolerance that prevails during the month when the Olympic flame is visible as a symbol of the ability of man to realize peace and to defy all negativity. At that time, tears of victory mingle with feelings of defeat and everybody feels proud of the humanity that has brought them together and has deepened in them a love of life and construction and has urged them to abandon killing and destruction. Given our belief in these ideals and values and given our ancient civilization based on peace and justice, Egypt has co-sponsored the Greek draft resolution on the Olympic ideal, which embodies all the noble objectives. Egypt also supports the Tunisian draft resolution on the International Year of Sport and Physical Education. We note that these draft resolutions are in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

We call on all peoples of the world to be inspired by the objectives of the Olympics and sports as a way to realize permanent peace, justice, equality, universal well-being and freedom from wars and conflicts that have left a legacy of feelings of deprivation and hatred.

When competition increases and records fall and countries pursue athletic glory and strive only for the symbols of the fittest, the strongest, the fastest runner and the highest jumper, eventually the value of peace becomes entrenched and continuity among peoples and generations prevails.

Mr. Gilman (United States)

Building a peaceful and better world is the underlying principle of the United Nations Charter. Usually, the United Nations does that by considering issues related to peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and humanitarian assistance. Today, we are considering how to build a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal.

My name is Benjamin Gilman. During my 30 years of service in the United States House of Representatives, I was able to serve as Chairman of our Committee on International Relations for some six years. I have the honour of serving on the United States delegation to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session from the public at large. One of the purposes of such a role -- according to Eleanor Roosevelt, who established the tradition -- is to bring the perspective and experience of the American public directly to the Assembly's consideration of matters that affect us all.

The United States delegation is honoured to note the presence today of the Foreign Minister of Greece, Mr. George Papandreou; the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. Jacques Rogge, and other members of the IOC; the President of the United States Olympic Committee, Mr. James Scherr; the Minister for Sport of Tunisia, Mr. Abderrahim Zouari; other key figures of the Olympic movement; distinguished colleagues from Member States; and other dignitaries. We are grateful for their participation in today's activities. I should also like to note that there are several Olympians in this Hall today.

As all Olympic competitors recognize, records are meant to be broken. The number of sponsors of the worthy draft resolution (A/58/L.9) before us -- 191 -- also breaks a record, exceeding the number of sponsors of its predecessors and indeed of any other draft resolution in the Organization's history. That is truly an Olympic feat of the first order.

Although in its modern form, the Olympic Truce initiative is only 10 years old, it revives the ancient principle honoured among States of ensuring the safe passage of all concerned to Olympia and their participation in the Games. The United States delegation has joined in sponsoring the Assembly's adoption of five previous draft resolutions in this vein: prior to the Olympic Games held at Lillehammer, Atlanta, Nagano, Sydney and Salt Lake City. My country's delegation enthusiastically joins in the consensus today, on the eve of the Athens Olympics. Athletes pledge their honour to uphold the values of fair play and honest competition. The draft resolution before us and today's consensus are fostering a similar pledge: to reinforce the scope and the power of the Olympic movement, linking athletes of the twenty-first century with those of ancient Greece.

The United States is highly pleased about the return of the Olympic Games to Athens. Since the revival of the modern Olympic Games, in Athens in 1896, the United States has hosted the Olympics on eight occasions. The Olympic ideal is realized visibly in the spirit of goodwill. For example, some 27,000 volunteers made the Salt Lake City Olympics a success. In a similar expression of goodwill, the United States looks forward to hosting the Olympic movement in the future. In the year 2012, New York City will have served as host city to the United Nations for nearly 67 years. Our hopes are high that at that time, New York City will also host the Games of the thirtieth Olympiad. Excitement is running high about its bid, and particularly about the fact that, on 19 June 2004, the Olympic torch will pass through the streets of this city and in front of United Nations Headquarters en route to Athens.

However, what precisely has been the Olympic ideal? The Olympic ideal goes beyond victories and records to fair play, friendship and, ultimately, peace. The Olympic ideal connotes international understanding among our young people through sport and culture. It goes beyond sports competition to embrace intercultural and humanitarian activities as well. The goal of Olympism is to place sports at the service of man's harmonious development everywhere, with a view to encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society that is concerned with the preservation of human dignity. It was in 1894 that Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, predicted that the new modern Olympics would eventually become both a symbol and the centrepiece of a new global era of unity among all nations. Today's reaffirmation of the Olympic Truce recommits the nations of the world to that global aspiration at the heart of the Olympic ideal.

In that spirit, the people of the United States know and daily live out the positive role that sports can play towards a peaceful and better world. We believe in the Olympic ideal, and we encourage those -- the athletes, the coaches, the families and the organizations -- who work daily to make it a reality. Through sports, one learns about fair play, mutual understanding, solidarity and friendship. Those are the very virtues that the United Nations strives to embody in its work and as an example to the world community.

But let us be more specific. What are the significant benefits of sports for the youth of the world? People who are involved in sports better themselves and their societies. It has been proved that young people who engage in sports are more likely to join an athletic team than to join a gang; they are more likely to stay in school; they are more likely to make responsible decisions in favour of clean lives and away from drugs and other dangers; and they are more likely to go on to higher education. The results are solid and impressive.

Sports help us to meet the human-centred development goals proposed by recent United Nations global conferences. A symbolic reminder of that is the flying of the United Nations flag at the Olympic Games. But there are more concrete aspects. The United Nations system has worked in partnership with the IOC on many humanitarian fronts to promote, through sports, the quality of life and well-being of those living in the most disadvantaged circumstances. There are children in refugee camps, in displacement, in onerous labour conditions, in wars and other conflicts, in severe poverty and urban violence.

The IOC's International Cooperation and Development Department has initiated programmes worldwide for the world's young people. For example, they address stress in refugee camps through organized basketball tournaments. With IOC charitable assistance, war-ravaged sports facilities are rebuilt; coaching clinics teach the rules of fair play, tolerance and understanding; and equipment is provided to those who are in need. Much is done in cooperation with, inter alia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Development Programme.

Notably, the Olympic Solidarity Fund established by the IOC is spending over $0.2 billion between 2001 and 2004 for the development of sport scholarships for underprivileged athletes in developing countries. Today's adoption of this Greek-initiated draft resolution is a solemn moment in that it is essentially a humanitarian action.

The United Nations increasingly attests to the unifying power of sport. When the family of nations sometimes finds agreement difficult, it is nonetheless able to agree to come together in peaceful competition. For example, just two days ago on its lawn outside of this Hall, thousands of marathoners arrived for a spirited rally and friendship run to Central Park as a warm-up to Sunday's New York City Marathon, which included more than 30,000 athletes.

The Olympic Truce goes right to the heart of the philosophy of the Olympic Movement. The International Olympic Truce Foundation and its Centre, located in Athens, are the nexus for promulgating Olympism to mean more than just a medal count. I am pleased to recall that in 2001 my colleagues in the United States Senate adopted a resolution supporting the Olympic Truce with the same spirit that animates supporters of the Foundation. Through American philanthropy, a 22-foot-tall bronze statue entitled "The Olympic Truce" is being planned for presentation in Athens early next year. Since Olympism seeks to educate youth through sports and culture, that artistic gift will become an icon to that end.

Whether as athletes or spectators, when we meet at and participate in international sporting events, we share in the glow of world-class competition, whether it be in the heartbreak of losing or in the glory of winning, but most importantly, in the goodwill of participation. Sports are truly global activities that extend into the lives of all people, whether they be rich or poor, at peace or at war. International competitions, such as the Olympic Games, encourage all of our nations to set aside their differences in the spirit of fair play. They provide everyone with a venue for cultural exchange and an opportunity to share national traditions and customs. Today's draft resolution enables our General Assembly to underscore the fact that good sportsmanship promotes a worldwide culture of peace, tolerance and understanding, particularly among our young people. As Member States, we set a powerful example to the youth of the world in swearing this Olympic Truce today.

The United States would like to note its thoughts concerning the draft resolution contained in document A/58/L.2 on the International Year of Sport and Physical Education. Concerning the reference to the Millennium Development Goals, we should like to note that world leaders at the Millennium Summit, the Monterrey International Conference on Financing for Development and the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development agreed to support the internationally-agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. Those internationally-agreed goals articulate a balanced partnership for development that is missing in the Millennium Development Goals.

However, while we do support Tunisia's worthy goals with reference to the proposed anti-doping convention, our nation does have some reservations with regard to references to that proposed convention. We believe that it would be far better to approach that issue with care in order not to undermine or duplicate current efforts against the abuse of drugs in sports.

As I am learning from my colleagues here today, both sports and diplomacy seek to reinforce friendship between peoples, and fair play means involving players with various interests and abilities on a level playing field. In closing, let me note that, indeed, the Olympic ideal is a hymn to tolerance and understanding between all peoples and cultures. It is an invitation to competition, but competition with respect for others. In its ideals, Olympism is a school for democracy.

The Acting President

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item.

The General Assembly will now take decisions on the draft resolutions contained in documents A/58/L.2 and A/58/L.9.

We turn first to draft resolution A/58/L.2, entitled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace". I am pleased to announce that the following countries have joined the list of sponsors of the draft resolution: Angola, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Canada, the Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, France, Guinea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Niger, Peru, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Timor-Leste and Togo.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/58/L.2?

The Acting President

We turn now to draft resolution A/58/L.9, entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal".

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/58/L.9?

The Acting President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 23?

The Acting President

We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 23.