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News - UN envoy urges government to use sport for peace (13 April 2006)
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South Africa’s developmental sporting programmes and peacekeeping initiatives can progress and benefit immensely, using sport as a tool. Mr. Robert Ruoff, Media Adviser to Mr. Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace revealed this in an exclusive interview with SABC TV recently. Mr. Ogi was an official guest of the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa from 8- 12 April 2006. Throughout his visit in South Africa, he had been advocating for sport to be utilized as an instrument towards achieving peace, especially in Africa. He said Mr. Ogi met with President Thabo Mbeki and Mrs. Zanele Mbeki at the official residence in Pretoria yesterday, where they discussed how sport can be a vital component in achieving the millennium goals of the United Nations, including South Africa’s role in advancing peace and stability in Africa. “Sustainable development is very important for the new ideas of sport, development and peace, therefore we need cooperation between sport, developmental and political organizations,” stated Mr. Ogi. He said cooperation between all stakeholders, communities, NGOs, development bodies and government, would ensure that participation in sport becomes a right. “The right to play should become a human right.” He also highlighted the much debated issue of physical inactivity amongst youth at the recent International Conference on Sport and Development, held in Cape Town. He said HIV/AIDS was not the only scourge facing governments and which has led to many deaths, but that recent findings indicate that majority of citizens do not exercise. “It is not just HIV/AIDS and heart diseases which affect our economies negatively, but lack of physical activity is a new threat to our societies. We therefore are encouraged with what we saw in South Africa but will further like to encourage government and other stakeholders, to invest in sport. As a result, the well-being of citizens – people who are healthy – are likely to be become productive people.” Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Mr Gert Oosthuizen described Mr. Ogi’s visit as “very successful and fruitful in furthering the cause of sport for development and peace.” Speaking to SABC TV as well, he highlighted amongst the most critical achievements, the UN’s support for developmental programmes in South Africa. “Mr. Ogi visited and saw first hand, in Khayelitsha a developmental programme called Sports Coaches Outreach (SCORE) and was impressed to see how the potential of sport and recreation in making a difference in people’s lives.” Deputy Minister Oosthuizen further commended Mr. Ogi for his drive on using sport for peacekeeping initiatives, adding that during his visit, he also met with Defence Minister, Mr. Mosioua Lekota yesterday where he urged him advance the cause of sport in his ministry’s programmes. To this end, both the Departments of Sport and Recreation and Defence will pursue the matter further and look at areas of cooperation. The successful visit included meetings with CEO of 2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee, Mr. Danny Jordaan, SASCOC President Mr. Moss Mashishi as well as Dr Jean Benjamin, Deputy Minister of Social Development who is championing the Homeless World Cup to be held in South Africa in September this year. Mr. Ogi is expected to be back in South Africa during this tournament as he gave his strong support for the project, which aims to raise awareness around the issue of homelessness, using sport. |