Press Releases

Mr President,

My country maintains strong links with the Olympic Ideal, formed through Cyprus’ participation in the Olympic Games since their initiation in antiquity. I would like to thank China for bringing forward the resolution on the Olympic Ideal this year and wish them every success in hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Cyprus has once again co-sponsored this resolution, reaffirming our commitment to the principles and ideals it stands for.

While lauding the core values and principles of Olympism – excellence, fair game, friendship, respect and solidarity on a global scale – we need to single out the one hallowed principle most relevant to us here at the United Nations: the sacred tradition of the Olympic Truce. The cessation of hostilities before, during, and after the Games, in order to ensure the safe passage of athletes was underpinned by the superiority of pursuits that bring people together. Attaining peace through the creation of a peaceful environment in the service of collective values and goals that transcend individuals and nations is a paradigm that the UN can learn from.

Beyond the peace and security pillar, sport can teach us a lot in respect of equality, at a time when inequalities are growing both within and between nations. The Olympic arena is a great equalizer, where success is based only on hard work and personal sacrifice, not on race, gender, wealth or disability. We must extrapolate this to create a similar level playing field in our societies as well, and amongst our nations. We can start by granting to our youth, full and equal access to sports.

Sport has a unique capacity to bring people together. Due to its universal appeal, its convening power and its sheer force to unite people and overcome barriers, sport is a tool whose social potential is largely untapped. Mainstreaming sportsmanship into culture and education, well beyond allegiance to specific teams, can help promote Olympism as a philosophy and a way of life, shaping the ethos of each of our nations.

Fully cognizant of this, Cyprus has long been organizing an Olympic Education Program aiming to encourage children’s participation in sports, in order to foster a positive attitude towards physical activity, while educating them about the Olympic Ideal and derivative values. Furthermore, Cyprus has developed the “Pierre De Coubertin” programme to advance Olympic values, focusing on the promotion of peace through sports.

Cyprus has also implemented a Code of Conduct for its National Sports Federations that aims to promote good governance in sports, the fundamental principles and values of Olympism, transparency, social responsibility, gender equality and the development of a healthy and safe environment in sports, so as to contribute to the social and professional future of athletes and to address social inequalities. Additionally, our long-running national programme “Sports For All” provides access for all to every sport, irrespective of age, gender, income, or disability.

Cyprus remains committed to developing even more policies and programmes in our efforts to promote peace and conflict resolution through sports, education, culture, sustainable development and wider public engagement. 

In closing, I wish to call our attention to what the ancient Greeks themselves saw in the Olympic Games: a special potential for the promotion of peace among their often-warring city states. A potential that is capable of advancing international understanding and the cause of world peace.

Thank you, Mr President.

(NG/ECHR)