Iraq: UN to host reconstruction meeting at New York Headquarters in June

The United Nations is to host a meeting next month in New York of UN agencies, international financial institutions and Iraqi technical experts to boost the reconstruction and recovery of Iraq.

The meeting, on 24 June, will focus on information sharing about reconstruction efforts, needs assessment and resources.

Meanwhile, on the sports field, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is joining forces with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure that Iraqi athletes participate in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

In Baghdad today, an IOC delegation met with more than 200 athletes, coaches and sports administrator and told them that the IOC was committed to having Iraq participate in the Games.

With the active support of UNDP, the IOC said it would work with local sports federations on training programmes to prepare athletes for the games.

The IOC and UNDP encouraged the members of the Iraqi sports community to organize elections for a national Olympic committee. They also stressed the need for women to participate at all levels of sports.