Wilfried Lemke reappointed as UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development, Peace

The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, stressed that he would continue striving to raise awareness and promote the use of sport as a tool for development and peace as his appointment to the position was extended for another year today.

Mr. Lemke, who has held the position of Special Adviser since April 2008, said he would use the year to explore ways in which sport could be used to promote positive social changes and development.

“Sport is a powerful symbol which eliminates barriers and provides opportunities for rapprochement,” he said. “It does not have the power to stop tanks, but is capable of bringing people together and can be an excellent platform to open up dialogue, unite people and build trust. Sport is a bond to make a positive change in the world.”

The Special Adviser is tasked with reaching out further to the world of sport, as well as leading and coordinating UN system efforts to promote understanding and support for sport as an instrument in the advancement of development and peace objectives, including the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

After a year of a football World Cup and the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the focus in 2015 shifts to realization of the MDGs and to establishment of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Sport will play a continued and crucial role in the achievement of the new agenda and the Special Adviser’s role as advocate and representative of the UN and sport’s role in development is expected will remain of great importance.

Mr. Lemke will be assisted in his work over the coming year by the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), which acts as the UN gateway in fostering support for sport as an efficient tool in the pursuit of humanitarian, development and peace-building objectives.