2nd International Forum on Sport for Peace - Naciones Unidas

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Forewords
1.2. message from the special Adviser to the uN secretary general
on sport for Development and Peace, mr Wilfried Lemke
Today’s fast-changing world is, unfortunately, still plagued by inequality, poverty, disasters and
conflicts. Over the past decade, sport has gradually gained acceptance as an intervention mechanism
that, on the one hand, garners almost universal engagement and, on the other hand, is a viable
recourse to bringing about human development and promoting peace.
Considering sports potential to cross cultural bridges, break down barriers and bring people
together, it is natural for the United Nations to partner with the <strong>International</strong> Olympic Committee
(IOC), given the shared values of the two organizations. Through this partnership, the worlds of sport
and development get closer day by day, thereby assisting to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).
The <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Forum</strong> on Sport for Peace and Development, held on 10 and 11 May 2011 at
the UN Office in Geneva, demonstrated the alliance between the United Nations and the Olympic
family. The <strong>Forum</strong> acted as an excellent networking opportunity and enabled committed partners
with a wealth of expertise in the field to get together and develop the crucial partnerships necessary
for long term, sustainable impact. The Recommendations approved by the <strong>Forum</strong> participants
provide a basis for the road ahead and we will continue our work together to turn them into action.
The United Nations – witnessed through the personal engagement of the Secretary General – is
committed to this task.
I would like to thank and congratulate all speakers, panellists and participants of the <strong>Forum</strong> for
attending, contributing and sharing valuable knowledge. I would also like to thank the IOC for
their engagement in mobilizing sport for social change and, in particular, for their collaboration in
organizing the <strong>Forum</strong>.
In recent years, much effort has been on raising awareness of the unique power of sport for advancing
human development. Today, the issue is anchored on the agenda of both the United Nations and the
Olympic and sports movement. Nevertheless, until social change through sport programmes and
strategies have been fully mainstreamed, on the one hand, in national and international development
and peace programmes and, on the other hand, in the social responsibility approach by the sport
movement, there is no room for complacency.
The <strong>Forum</strong>, however, also identified some gaps when it comes to translating policy into action. As
a poignant quote from the <strong>Forum</strong> reminds us,“talking is good, implementation is better”. In this
respect, one of the key questions that arose throughout the <strong>Forum</strong> was “how do we increase the
impact of our work on the ground?”.
<strong>2nd</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Forum</strong> on Sport for Peace & Development
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