Laura Chinchilla, IOC member, highlighted the Olympic Games’ crucial role in promoting peace at the UN Security Council’s “Leadership for Peace” debate. She emphasized that while the Games cannot create peace, they foster a culture of peace that inspires the world. The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics symbolize unity among athletes from conflicting nations, sending a powerful message for peace globally.

At a recent high-level open debate of the United Nations (UN) Security Council entitled “Leadership for Peace,” Laura Chinchilla, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and former President of Costa Rica, emphasized the Olympic Games’ vital role in fostering a culture of peace. This debate occurred in New York, where IOC President Thomas Bach was invited to discuss the importance of international peace and security under the Slovenian presidency of the UN Security Council. During her address to the Council on September 26, Mrs. Chinchilla articulated, “The Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. The Olympic athletes, while competing fiercely against each other, are living at the same time peacefully together under one roof. The Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games create a culture of peace that inspires the world.” Referencing the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, she noted: “We managed to bring the entire world together amid the challenges of the far too many wars and conflicts that divide nations of this world.” She pointed out that athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees, alongside the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, will participate in Paris, symbolizing a universal call for peace and unity, free from incidents or discrimination, even among nations in conflict. The messages of peace conveyed through the Olympic Games have a considerable global impact, reaching over half of the world’s population, and reinforcing the importance of peaceful leadership in a divided world. The IOC President’s visit to the UN in New York reinforced this message, as he engaged with over 30 heads of state and government leaders, receiving commendations for the Paris 2024 Olympics and their overarching theme of peace and solidarity. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude for the commitment to integrating sport into the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the recent Pact for the Future, which was adopted by 193 UN member states.

The UN Security Council’s “Leadership for Peace” debate serves as a platform for discussing the role of various global initiatives in fostering peace and security. The inclusion of representatives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) highlights the Olympic Games’ unique position in promoting unity and understanding among nations through sports. The upcoming Olympics in Paris 2024 serve as a pivotal example of how the Olympic spirit can transcend national conflicts and promote global harmony.

The discussions at the UN Security Council underscored the Olympic Games’ unique role as a catalyst for peace and international solidarity. Through its ability to unite diverse nations in a spirit of friendly competition, the Olympic Games foster a culture of peace that resonates globally. The upcoming Olympics represent not only an athletic event but also a significant opportunity to reinforce messages of peace in a world marked by division and conflict.

Original Source: olympics.com

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