By Nam Hyun-woo
World Taekwondo Federation President Choue Chung-won met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the federation's Sport Peace Corps initiative with regard to promoting peace through sports.
Choue visited the U.N. Headquarters in New York, April 6, to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, along with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and other high-profile delegates.
During a meeting with Ban, Choue discussed the Sport Peace Corps initiative with the secretary general and asked for the U.N.'s support for the program that could help build a fairer, more equal and peaceful society.
"We had a very productive meeting and we are all in agreement that sport has the unique power to create a more peaceful future," Choue was quoted as saying after the meeting. "It is my hope that soon, with the support of the U.N., the IOC and all the International Federations, we will be able to launch the Sport Peace Corps to harness this immense power and bring hope and harmony to some of the world's most deprived countries and communities."
The Sport Peace Corps is a program providing comprehensive sport-related assistance, including equipment and training for local athletes and coaches, to underdeveloped countries and other U.N.-assigned areas. Since 2007, when Choue first unveiled the project, the federation has been urging the U.N., the IOC and other global organizations to join the program and now has high expectations that the program will have their support.
In an understanding that sport's vast reach and popularity will contribute to the U.N.'s objectives for development and peace, its General Assembly declared April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
In Choue's April visit, IOC President Bach, International Paralympic Committee President Sir Phillip Craven and IOC member Angela Ruggiero discussed the importance of sport in bringing about positive change around the world. During an event called United Action Towards Sustainable Development For All Through Sport, Bach called for sport to be included in U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
World Taekwondo Federation President Choue Chung-won met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss the federation's Sport Peace Corps initiative with regard to promoting peace through sports.
Choue visited the U.N. Headquarters in New York, April 6, to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, along with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and other high-profile delegates.
During a meeting with Ban, Choue discussed the Sport Peace Corps initiative with the secretary general and asked for the U.N.'s support for the program that could help build a fairer, more equal and peaceful society.
"We had a very productive meeting and we are all in agreement that sport has the unique power to create a more peaceful future," Choue was quoted as saying after the meeting. "It is my hope that soon, with the support of the U.N., the IOC and all the International Federations, we will be able to launch the Sport Peace Corps to harness this immense power and bring hope and harmony to some of the world's most deprived countries and communities."
The Sport Peace Corps is a program providing comprehensive sport-related assistance, including equipment and training for local athletes and coaches, to underdeveloped countries and other U.N.-assigned areas. Since 2007, when Choue first unveiled the project, the federation has been urging the U.N., the IOC and other global organizations to join the program and now has high expectations that the program will have their support.
In an understanding that sport's vast reach and popularity will contribute to the U.N.'s objectives for development and peace, its General Assembly declared April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
In Choue's April visit, IOC President Bach, International Paralympic Committee President Sir Phillip Craven and IOC member Angela Ruggiero discussed the importance of sport in bringing about positive change around the world. During an event called United Action Towards Sustainable Development For All Through Sport, Bach called for sport to be included in U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
