On the Scene: UN Declares Int'l Day of Sport

NEW YORK (ATR) - The 67th General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution todayproclaiming April 6th as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

H.E. Vuk Jeremić, President of the U.N. General Assembly, opened Friday’s proceedings in New York by introducing Jacques Rogge on his final visit to the U.N. as IOC President.

"For his distinguished contributions to the world of sport and beyond, we owe him a large dept of gratitude," said Jeremić, who has served as President of the General Assembly 67th Session since June 2012.

Following presentations by United Nations members from Monaco, the United States, Australia, Costa Rica, Israel, and Belarus, all voicing support for the initiative, Rogge addressed the U.N. General Assembly about agenda item 12 during an informal segment of the proceedings on Friday morning.

"Your decision recognizes the value of the work that is underway every day, in every regionof the world, to share the joy and benefits of sport with people of all ages and abilities," said the IOC President .

"Designating the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace will bring others to this great cause and deliver more benefits to more people," Rogge stated while sitting between Serbians Jeremić and world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic.

After the session, Rogge spoke to Around the Rings.

"I think one should not understate the symbolic importance of this: the acknowledgement of the value of sports for education, the value of sports for health and the value of sports to contribute to a better peace climate," Rogge said.

"All of this has been recognized by the United Nations and I think this is a landmark day," he said.

Rogge emphasized the accomplishments and value of the relationship between the IOC and U.N.

"We have already done a lot together with the United Nations," Rogge said. "In 2009, we obtained a Status of Observancy of the General Assembly, which non-government agencies can have. It opens the doors of the United Nations.

"We have signed not less than 19 Memorandum of Understandings with the agencies of theU.N. The purpose of the MOUs is that we bring the value of sport, we bring sport infrastructure, organizers and coaches and the United Nations provides facilities, logistics and so forth, and the combination of the two works very well."

Jeremić, who is also the President of the Serbian Tennis Association, concluded Friday’s session at the U.N.

"In the words of the greatest living statesman, Nelson Mandela, a heroic figure whose political legacy and moral weight has left a lasting mark on our times, 'Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire and unite people in a way that little else does,'" Jeremić said.

"In effortlessly throwing asunder all human barriers, sport is indeed the world’s universal language," he concluded.

Djokovic, a two-time Olympian who won a bronze medal at Beijing in 2008, spoke to Aroundthe Rings about the global influence and significance of the newly adopted U.N. resolution.

"It’s important to all members of the U.N., but also all people around the world realize the intrinsic values that sport represents and hopefully we can nurture them for many more years," said Djokovic, who begins his pursuit for a second U.S. Open title on Monday in nearbyFlushing Meadows.

IOC members in attendance included AmericansAngela Ruggiero and Anita DeFrantz, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, Austin Seale of Barbados, IOC Athletes Commission chair Claudia Bokel. IOC International Cooperation Director Tommy Sithole.and USOC Chairman Larry Probst were also at the U.N.

IOC on Russian Gay Propaganda Law Clarification

Amid the inspiration and positive feelings of the day’s festivities at the U.N., Rogge briefly addressed yesterday’s document provided to the IOC by the Russian government clarifying the country’s controversial gay propaganda law as it relates to February’s Sochi Olympics.

"The document clarifies a lot of issues that we are now going to communicate to the National Olympic Committees and the athletes because before there was an uncertainty," Rogge explained.

"The document is very clear – it says foremost that gay and lesbian people will be allowedto participate in Sochi. The Russian document says very clearly that there can be no discrimination for sexual orientation in the constitution of the Russian Federation and that’s a very important factor."

Finally, Rogge also spoke about his emotions and feelings as he concludes his final weeks as leader of the IOC. His successor will be selected on September 10 at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"It’s been a privilege, it’s been an exciting 12 years, sometimes challenging," said Rogge, while looking relaxed and at ease, despite weathering the storm from recent pressure put on the IOC related to Russia’s controversial new law.

"I would say I feel it as a big privilege that I’ve had this opportunity," the 71-year-old IOC President continued. "I leave with the satisfaction that I can hand over a very strong IOC to my successor."

Reported by Brian Pinelli at the United Nations.

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