July 24 – United Nations Geneva director-general Michael Møller has emphaasised the importance of the role sport has to play in breaking down boundaries between nations and cultures. He also talked of the importance of integrity in enabling sport to achieve it potential in this regard.
Speaking in advance of the fourth SIGA Sport Integrity Forum in Geneva that is being hosted by Møller’s organisation in Geneva, he said that establishing trust in sport was vital.
Topics to be discussed at the forum include: Walking The Talk: Working Together for Real Integrity in Sport; Good Money, Bad Money: Financial Integrity On and Off the Sporting Arena; Pushing for Long-Overdue Reform: The Role of Global Business in Restoring Integrity in Sport; Diversity in Sport: From Soundbite to Reality. Now!; Sports Betting Integrity USA: The Post PASPA Era; and The Power of Sport Beyond The Field of Play: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“Sport is a powerful tool to promote peace and achieve development objectives. Sport is about integrity, tolerance and respect. It teaches perseverance, teamwork and fair play. It is open to everyone and empowers women and young people. It facilitates mutual understanding across generations and geographies, uniting the people of the world. These characteristics of sport are a reflection of the universal values of the United Nations that transcend cultural and social backgrounds, languages and religions. This is why the United Nations is committed to harnessing the power of sport,” said Møller.
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes sport as “an important enabler of sustainable development.” In this spirit, the efforts of the SIGA Sport Integrity Forum IV in Geneva, to highlight the unparalleled ability of sport to support peace, foster innovation and drive development are to be welcomed. By exploring the importance of integrity, the Forum will promote insights that are relevant beyond sport: respect for integrity – a universal commitment to “play by the rules of the game” – is indispensable to establish trust in the multilateral order and support the success of the United Nations. It is a vital precondition for achieving a better and more peaceful world.”
The full agenda for the SIGA Sport Integrity Forum IV can be found on www.siga-sport.net
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