Dubai: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged the world of sport to hasten the process of annihilating racism, gender bias, poverty and other social evil through the use of sport as a healing force.
Delivering the closing key note address at the SportAccord Convention 2010 Dubai, Annan admitted that the world would have been a worse place if not for the presence of sport.
"I admit that racism has not been rooted out, and we still go according to skin colour, nationality and religion.
"But these really don't matter and there are several examples to show the endurance of the human spirit through sport," Annan told delegates who gave him a standing ovation as he went on stage.
Annan, who served as the UN Secretary-General for two terms between 1997 to 2006) called on the international community to increase efforts to use sport as a tool to fight poverty, heal divisions and protect the planet. He added that the impressive efforts being made around the world to use sport as a positive force proves to us the need for increased partnership between the sporting community, development agencies, civil society and the private sector, in an attempt to achieve what is good for mankind.
Role
"Sport has an almost unmatched role to play in promoting understanding, healing wounds, mobilising support for social causes, and breaking down barriers," he said while giving examples of Georgia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, Liberia and Colombia.
"The UN has just 192 members, but Fifa has 208 members. I want to ask my good friend [Sepp] Blatter how he got so many countries.
"This merely shows the unifying potential of sport. It is not a by-product of development.
"Sport engages us and brings our world together. It has unmatched growth and it helps us break barriers," Annan said. "The way Iraq celebrated its triumph in the 2007 Asian Cup and the World Cup victory of the French football team are both prime examples. And what Kathy Freeman did by winning the 400 metres gold in Sydney did more than what governments could have hoped for after meeting for years," Annan added.
A passionate football fan, Annan highlighted the importance of the Fifa World Cup in South Africa at the same time holding the hope that one of the African countries will make it to the final. "Just as sport helps undermine myths and prejudices for individuals and groups, I believe this summer will have the same impact on a continent-wide scale.
"I am looking to a World Cup on my continent and I am doubly excited. A highly successful tournament will help alter perceptions and play its part in increasing investment and support.
"It will underline the rich talent and potential there is in Africa ... " Annan said.
