Olympic

Secretary-General unveils sculpture at UN to commemorate Olympic Truce

20 October 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the importance of the global call for a halt to all fighting during the Olympics, as he unveiled a sculpture at United Nations Headquarters, ahead of the Winter Games to be held in Vancouver, Canada, next year.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon signs soccer ball as Special Advisor Wilfried Lemke looks on

UN to set up fund to support families of staff killed in action

3 October 2009
A fund will be established to help support the families of United Nations personnel who have been killed in the line of duty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today as he unveiled plans for the first event to raise money for the cause.
UNESCO Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura

Olympic stars from Jamaica named as UNESCO Champions for Sport

13 September 2008
Two of the brightest stars from the Beijing Olympics, the gold medal-winning Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown, were today named as Champions for Sport by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
UN volunteers pack donated sports clothes for refugees in Asia

Refugees win as result of UN-backed initiative on Olympic clothing

27 August 2008
Thousands of refugees in Asia will continue to be inspired by the heroism of athletes at the Beijing Olympics, even though the curtain has fallen on the Games, thanks to a United Nations-backed campaign in which competitors donated their surplus sportswear.
Olympic games in Beijing

Ban lauds China for ‘spectacular’ Olympic Games in Beijing

25 August 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated the people and Government of China for their staging of the Olympic Games, which concluded yesterday in Beijing after two weeks of competition across 28 sports.
Basketball star Yao Ming, UNEP's first-ever Environmental Champion

Basketball star Yao Ming becomes first UN Environmental Champion

9 August 2008
The Olympic athlete and Chinese basketball star Yao Ming has become the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) first-ever Environment Champion, the agency announced today in Beijing.
UNESCO Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura

UNESCO chief lauds United States’ ratification of sports anti-doping pact

5 August 2008
The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today welcomed the United States’ ratification of a global convention against the practice of doping in sports, saying it sends a valuable message on the eve of the opening of the Beijing Olympics.

Ban joins General Assembly’s call for Olympic truce during Beijing Games

28 July 2008
Less than two weeks before the 2008 Summer Olympics begin in Beijing, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today joined the General Assembly in calling on all those who are at war to observe the traditional two-week Olympic Truce.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and IOC President, Jacques Rogge

Olympic Games offer venue to promote peace and friendship, Ban says in Beijing

2 July 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the opportunity presented by the Beijing Olympic Games to promote friendship and peace, as he toured the site where athletes and fans from around the world will gather in just over one month’s time.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) visiting the IOC headquarters in Switzerland in January

Beijing Games focus of talks as UN official meets head of Olympic Committee

23 April 2008
The United Nations Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace and the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have pledged to ensure that this summer’s Games in Beijing, China, are celebrated in a spirit of friendship and respect.