Annan and Rogge call on sports community

Accra, June 20, GNA - Mr Kofi Annan, United Nations (UN) Secretary General and Dr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have called on the sporting community for re-dedication to the goals of services to the community, the advancement of human kind and universal peace.

The message was contained in a joint statement issued by the two world leaders from the United Nations Information Centre in Accra through the GNA Sports to mark the Olympic Day Run and the commemoration of the International Year of Sports and Physical Education that falls on June 23 this year. The statement said the UN and the IOC share common fundamental ideas such as tolerance, fair play and equal rights, hence the need for them to work together to harness the great power of sports to change peoples' life for the better. It said sports offers endless opportunities for innovative partners between international organisations, civil society groups, private sector business and others.

The statement added that the recent examples of sports in the world are indications of the importance of sports that can build self esteem, leadership skills, community spirit and build bridges across ethnic or communal divides. It added that, "we have seen how well-designed sport programmes can be catalysts for economic growth and cost effective ways to improve health and education particularly for young people".

The world leaders said, "On this Olympic Day, when millions of people around the world will take the traditional run to mark the birth of the modern Olympics, we call on the sporting community to rededicate itself to the goals of service to the community, the advancement of humankind and universal peace".