UN General Assembly Proclaimes April 6 as International Sports Day
Baku, August 24 (AZERTAC). The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted on Friday a resolution proclaiming April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, and its president Vuk Jeremic stressed that sport is indeed the world`s universal language and can be a powerful handmaiden for peace and reconciliation.
The adoption of what Jeremic called a historic resolution was attended by the world`s number one men`s tennis player Novak Djokovic and President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge.
Serbia`s former foreign minister paid tribute to Rogge`s broad legacy of achievement during his twelve-year tenure at the helm of the IOC, including the attainment of Permanent Observer status at the UN in 2009.
Jeremic said we owe him a large debt of gratitude “for his distinguished contributions to the world of sport and beyond.” As for Djokovic, Jeremic called him Serbia`s “most favorite son.”
“His accomplishments on the court have been widely recognized. But more importantly, I believe one can draw inspiration from his personality and strength of character, his steadfastness of purpose, and his fortitude to persevere,” said Jeremic.
“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 honorable competition, inspiring us to push ourselves beyond limits,” Jeremic said.
“Sport has a unique power to attract, mobilize and inspire people around the world,” he added.
“It can bring us closer through shared celebration of achievements of universal appeal and attraction. Ethnic, religious and economic divisions fall by the wayside, along with prejudice, fear and misunderstanding,” Jeremic said.
He recalled that in 1993, the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the observance of a truce during the Olympic Games, as was the case in ancient Greece.
“In establishing this International Day, let us pay tribute to the great legends of the past, whose athletic achievements, character, and moral fortitude have earned them a place of distinction in the pantheon of Olympic glory-champions such as Jesse Owens, who defied fascist ideology through his stunning victory in Berlin in 1936,” he said.
“And let us express deep esteem for the para-athletes who, in their quest for sporting distinction are bravely defying disabilities and defeating negative stereotypes,” the UNGA president.
Citing the words of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, the phrase that represents the true essence of the Olympic spirit, Jeremic concluded “the most important thing in the Olympics is not winning, but taking part; the essential thing in life is not victory, but contesting well and nobly.”
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