On Africa tour, UN sports adviser to meet World Cup officials

The United Nations official tasked with promoting sport for development and peace is embarking on a visit to Kenya, where he will attend a forum focusing on disadvantaged youth, followed by a stop in South Africa to meet with World Cup officials.

While in Nairobi, Wilfried Lemke will attend the “Forum on Productive Youth Development through Sport in Africa,” a three-day meeting that begins today and brings together more than 50 practitioners and experts.

The Forum will discuss the role sport can play to help disadvantaged youth and how to better share resources and ideas, according to a news release issued by Mr. Lemke’s office.

The Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace will also visit South Africa, where he will address a meeting of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and meet with representatives of the 2010 football World Cup, which is to be held in South Africa.

“It is the wish of the Secretary-General that the World Cup will be a success for South Africa, the whole continent and for all the partners involved. I will do my utmost to assist and support in all the efforts in order to ensure that that the competition will be a successful sustainable event,” Mr. Lemke said.