The UNOPSD is supported by a New York Liaison Office and assists Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace Wilfried Lemke’s activities as an advocate, facilitator and representative of promoting sport as a tool of social cohesion. UNOP is based in New York and serves as a gateway for public-private partnerships with the United Nations system.
The three will work together to endorse “the role of sport in achieving sustainable peace and development, especially in countries emerging from conflicts.” This will be done with working directly with athletes, sport associations, policy makers, international organisations, the private sector, foundations and civil society.
“It’s a great honour for Peace and Sport to be recognized as a strategic partner by two key offices in the United Nations System,” said Joel Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport. “Our international platform is neutral and apolitical, which gives us legitimacy to work effectively with a multitude of very different actors, promoting and building peace through sport.
“We are pleased to leverage this aptitude to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals. By partnering with the UN, our efforts to raise awareness and mobilise decision-makers in politics, sport and economic life will be increased tenfold and made more effective.”
Lemke added: “One of the main tasks of my mandate is to lead and coordinate the efforts of the United Nations system in order to better integrate sport and physical education into our programmes worldwide. Encouraging collaboration and partnerships in this area is one of my priorities. I am convinced that the UN has found a worthwhile ally in Peace and Sport to use sport as an innovative catalyst for social change and building sustainable peace.”
Peace and Sport, UNOSDP and UNOP will collaborate on the 3rd Peace and Sport International Forum, which will take place from November 25-27 2009 in Monaco.
