The Olympic Truce helps to show the world that peace is a possibility

Statement by The Rt Hon The Lord Coe of Ranmore (Sebastian Coe), Chairman of the London Organising Committee introducing the draft UN General Assembly resolution "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal"

"Mr President,

Members of the General Assembly,

I stand before you today as someone who has dedicated their life to sport and the Olympic movement - as an athlete and now as Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and the Paralympic Games in 2012. It is a real honour to be with you this morning to introduce, ahead of the London 2012 Games, the draft resolution on "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal", also known as the Olympic Truce resolution.

On behalf of the people of the United Kingdom, the British Government, the Mayor of the host city, London, and the British Olympic Association, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the support which members of this General Assembly have already provided for this resolution. The text is the result of consultations with all Member States conducted in a spirit of openness and transparency. Their feedback and support strengthened the text, which we proudly present today. And I thank all delegations for their cooperation and collaboration, and particularly the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace who, under the chairmanship of Monaco and Tunisia, have helped to steer the draft resolution to this point.

Mr President,

The pursuit of a better, more peaceful world has always been at the heart of the Olympic vision.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founding father of the modern Olympic Movement, saw in the Games a great opportunity, and I quote: ‘to build a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport... to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example, and respect for fundamental ethical principles.’

Today, more than a century later, those principles are as valid and as relevant as ever.

The extraordinary level of co-sponsorship of this year’s Olympic Truce resolution – all 193 members of this General Assembly - is a sign of hope and support for the timeless values symbolised by the Truce and by the Olympic Movement. And it is testament to the relevance of the Truce and the Olympic Games in a time of global challenge...

But in these challenges, also lies opportunity. Throughout history, great political, technological, cultural, artistic and other advances have emerged from times of adversity. The United Nations from World War II; satellite technology from the Cold War; even great jazz from the Great Depression...

We always need to search for new ways of thinking and acting. The Olympic Truce, and the Olympic values and the programs that support it, really can promote peace...

Sport is one of those forces which can still offer real hope – both collective and individual. It has many roles - often the quiet, deft diplomat, the hidden peacemaker, if you like. And, for over a century, the modern Olympic Movement has given voice to the positive values of humanity, not merely reflecting change but driving it. The Olympic Movement forges links well beyond traditional social and diplomatic structures and geographic boundaries.

It would be folly to suggest that sport provides a complete answer, a panacea for all our social ills. But it can and does help to mend broken communities, rebuild trust, rediscover self-respect, and foster the values at the core of our common humanity. And there are the powerful examples of sport breaking through man-made barriers of ignorance and hate – none more so than Jesse Owens shattering the myth of racism at the Olympic Games in 1936.

I competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 - due in large part to the visionary determination of the late IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch to take the Games into the then Soviet Union – sport helping to foster understanding, and create and extended networks of new friendship, association, and opportunity across ideological and geographic divides.

And North and South Korean athletes marched together into the opening ceremony of the Sydney Games, again demonstrating the power of sport to bring people together ... in a way that politicians alone could not.

Mr President,

It has never been more important to support this General Assembly resolution by actions, not just through words. Between now and the Games, the United Kingdom Government will lead a wide range of activities to promote peaceful development.

It has committed about $36 million to deliver an innovative global sports programme called International Inspiration. Aimed at young people from all backgrounds, it goes to the heart and soul of our vision for the London 2012 Games and, of course, the Olympic Truce.

International Inspiration has already reached out to more than 12 million young people in 15 countries through a unique partnership involving UNICEF, National Olympic Committees and British Government agencies – and 4 more countries have recently joined the programme.

It is improving sports systems in developing countries; increasing school attendance; enhancing educational performance. It has empowered girls and young women to participate in sport, access education and become community leaders. It has increased self-esteem and confidence, and raised awareness of HIV/AIDS and other threats to health.

International Inspiration has also supported reconciliation by hosting sports events in camps for young people who have been displaced by conflict. And it has also offered purpose and anchor points which have helped street children transform their lives.

Closer to home, our Olympic and Paralympic education programme, Get Set, is bringing alive in British schools and communities the Olympic and Paralympic values of friendship, respect, excellence, courage and determination. It is promoting social inclusion, health and physical activity, and tackling bullying and gang culture.

Mr Chairman

I am also very proud that this resolution strongly highlights how sport enhances the lives of those who live with disabilities, and how much they contribute to the world of sport. The passion and determination of Paralympic athletes is an inspiration to us all.

Mr Chairman

We look forward to working with the IOC, and other member states and civil society on further activities to promote the Truce. These will be designed to help find local solutions to local challenges and contribute to long-term peace and stability.

We applaud the work of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his officials - notably his Special Representative for Sport for Peace and Development, Wilfred Lemke, and his team. With the IOC President Jacques Rogge, they are finding new ways to develop communities and build peace through sport. In particular, we are grateful for their promotion of gender equality, inclusion of people living with disabilities, prevention of HIV and AIDS and other diseases, environmental sustainability and peace and conflict resolution. We encourage others to support Mr Lemke’s mandate and his work.

This working partnership between the United Nations and the Olympic Movement is closer than ever –evidenced by the IOC’s recent admission as an Observer in this Assembly; and through day-to-day co-operation between the IOC, Olympic Organising Committees and United Nations agencies.

This deepening relationship gives a new significance to initiatives like the Olympic Truce. It provides opportunities for greater collaboration among UN member states through sport-related programmes which we know can make a real difference to the lives of young people and their communities.

The UK had the honour of hosting the Olympic Games in 1948, when the world had been shattered by global conflict and still simmered with tension and hostility – in fact, the route of the Olympic Torch to London had to be altered to allow for safe passage through parts of Europe.

Today, we cannot ignore the continuing spectre of conflict around the world. Through this resolution, anchored in the original spirit of de Coubertin’s vision, we can, together, take active steps to ensure that the Olympics continue to serve the cause of peace.

The vision for the London 2012 Games and the Truce is focused on young people and on giving them a voice. So I would like to leave you with a message from two young people who represent that vision: Amber Charles, a Londoner now studying in America on a sports scholarship; and Ali Mohamed, who has been recently elected as "Young Mayor" by the young people of Newham, one of the host boroughs for the London Games. Both of them are with us today as members of our official delegation.

Amber and Ali have asked me to give you this message:

"...The Truce helps to show the world that peace is a possibility. It shows the power that sport has to inspire unity, mutual understanding, and respect among different types of people...countries should feel an obligation to respect the Truce because it holds true to the idea that we can co-exist without the need for discrimination and fighting. It gives us something to strive towards outside of the Olympics and the arena of sport."

Mr President,

I can’t think of a more appropriate way to conclude this introduction of the resolution, or to highlight the importance of your support for the Truce, than to quote one of the iconic figures of our time, Nelson Mandela, a long time friend of the Olympic Movement, and a supporter of the Games in London next year. "Sport", he said, "has the power to change the world...sport can create hope...it is an instrument for peace..."

Thank you."

For more information, visit http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=670619482

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