Olympic

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon participates in Olympic torch relay ahead of Sochi Games.
UN Photo

Sports sets a guiding light for international relations to follow, Ban tells Winter Olympics

7 February 2014
The Olympic spirit of fair play, mutual respect and friendly competition “melts away barriers” and sets an example for international relations, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told tens of thousands of spectators and tens of millions of others watching on television around the world at the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, today.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) visits the Olympic village in Sochi, Russian Federation, and meets with athletes and officials of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Ahead of Sochi Olympic Games, Ban praises power of sport to unite all people

6 February 2014
In Sochi, Russia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised the power of sport to promote human rights and unite people regardless of their age, race, class, religious, ability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity in a first of its kind address to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Ban heads to Russia this week for opening of Sochi Winter Olympics

3 February 2014
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Russia later this week to take part in the opening of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, his spokesperson announced today.
Photo: UNEP
UNEP

Ahead of the Sochi games, Ban calls for observance of Olympic Truce

31 January 2014
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for the observance of the Olympic Truce, calling on everyone engaged in armed hostilities to lay down their weapons and cease hostilities.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

General Assembly President appeals for ‘Olympic Truce’ ahead of Sochi Games

29 January 2014
With a little over a week to go before the Winter Olympics open in Sochi, Russia, General Assembly President John Ashe today urged United Nations Member States to observe the historic tradition of ceasing hostilities ahead of the Games.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre), Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia (left) and General Assembly President Vuk Jeremić kick off countdown to Sochi Winter Olympics.
UN Photo/Nkola Krastev

With one year to go, Ban helps kick off countdown to Sochi Winter Olympics

8 February 2013
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon helped to kick off the one-year countdown to next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi – the first Games to ever be hosted by the Russian Federation.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (right) beside UK Secretary of State Caroline Spelman at the Olympic Park in London.
UNEP

UN official hails United Kingdom’s measures to make Olympics sustainable

26 July 2012
A senior United Nations official today praised the measures taken by the United Kingdom to ensure that the London Summer Olympic Games are environmentally sustainable.
Mr. Lemke, UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace

UN official calls on young Olympians to help improve their home communities

18 August 2010
The thousands of athletes competing in the first-ever Youth Olympic Games, currently under way in Singapore, should use their experiences at the event to help promote change and improvement in their local communities, a senior United Nations official said today.

Winter Olympics in Vancouver aim to win green medal from UN agency

13 February 2010
The organizers of the Winter Olympics that kicked off this weekend in Vancouver are hoping to stage some of the greenest Games ever, thanks to a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon holds Olympic Torch at UN Headquarters event dedicated to Olympic Truce in October 2009

UN goes for gold on development goals during Winter Olympics in Vancouver

12 February 2010
With the Winter Olympics kicking off today in Vancouver, a senior United Nations official is spotlighting the important role that sport can play in promoting development, as the finish line looms for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).