Ban Ki-moon, International Olympic Committee discuss expanded cooperation

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today agreed on expanding their cooperation, especially in tackling climate change.

“We will work very closely together for our common efforts to address global warming issues,” Mr. Ban told reporters in Lausanne, Switzerland, following his meeting with IOC President Jacques Rogge.

The Secretary-General and Mr. Rogge also conferred on the potential positive impact of this summer’s Beijing Olympics.

The upcoming Games will create “a very important momentum” to spur discussions on peace, as well as climate change, a top priority for Mr. Ban.

He expressed his appreciation for the IOC’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight targets to eliminate poverty and other ills by 2015, especially in regards to the environment.

The Secretary-General also lauded Mr. Rogge for being recognized as 2007 Champion of the Earth by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“Through sports we can promote peace and dialogue and reconciliation,” Mr. Ban noted.

Tomorrow, Mr. Ban is scheduled to address a memorial service in honour of the 17 UN staff members who lost their lives in last month’s terrorist bombing in Algiers, Algeria.

After attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, he will depart for another leg of his trip which will take him to Slovenia, Slovakia, Rwanda and Ethiopia.