UN proclaims April 6 International Day of Sport for Development, Peace

26 August 2013 – The United Nations on Friday proclaimed April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. UN General Assembly president, Vuk Jeremic hailed the August 23 adoption of the resolution a “historic” step in recognizing the power of sport to erase cultural barriers and mobilize people around the world. “Sport can be a powerful handmaiden for peace and reconciliation. It can bring us closer through shared celebration of achievements of universal appeal and attraction,” Jeremic said, adding that ethnic, religious and economic divisions fall by the wayside, along with prejudice, fear and misunderstanding. “In effortlessly throwing asunder all human barriers, sport is indeed the world’s universal language,” he told the UN Assembly as he paid tribute to the “broad legacy of achievement” of Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who was present at the meeting. Also present was Novak Djokovic, who is ranked the world’s number one tennis player and a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Jeremic said that in many ways, sport is an embodiment of humanity’s most valiant characteristics. “It requires perseverance and discipline, engendering the principles of personal integrity, fair-play, and honourable competition, inspiring us to push ourselves beyond limits,” he said hailing the universal values of sport, which the UN and IOC both seek to promote. (Source: UN)