Institute for International Sport and United Nations Launch Partnership

On May 24, 2006 a major press conference was held at the United Nations. In attendance at the press conference were delegations from many countries, as well as a large delegation of representatives from the Institute for International Sport. The press conference/ceremony served to announce a historic partnership between the Institute’s acclaimed World Scholar-Athlete Games and the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace Initiative. Rhode Island Attorney General, Patrick Lynch, co-chair of the Rhode Island Executive Committee for the 2006 World Scholar-Athlete Games, opened the press conference by stating, “We are about to witness what I believe will be one of the greatest youth events in history, the World Scholar-Athlete Games. Today’s press conference also launches a partnership that will forge literally hundreds of alliances as we move toward 2011, and the World Youth Peace Summit.” 

The following was the press release issued by the United Nations regarding the announcement. This press release received media coverage on both a domestic and international scale.

Countdown to 2006 World Scholar Athlete Games

United Nations, New York, 23 May 2006: The United Nations and the Institute for International Sport will launch a partnership at a festive ceremony at the United Nations in New York tomorrow to use sport as a means to promote peace and conflict resolution around the world. The United Nations New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace is the Institute’s partner in the initiative.

The ceremony on Wednesday, 24 May, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the United Nations ECOSOC Chamber, will feature performances by scholar athletes and artists from around the world. A reception will follow.

The unique collaboration comes as the Institute, based at the University of Rhode Island, celebrates its 20th anniversary. The launch begins the one month countdown to the 2006 World Scholar Athlete Games, organized by the Institute, which will take place at the university campus in June.

“The UN is to be highly praised for recognizing that sport can be important vehicle for promoting peace around the world,” said Dan Doyle, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for International Sport. He called the collaboration “one of the most significant developments in the history of the Institute.”

“We welcome this alliance with the Institute for International Sport,” said Djibril Diallo, Director of the United Nations New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace. “The World Scholar Athlete Games offer a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness among young people about the power of sport to help make a better world.”

The World Scholar-Athlete Games will take place from June 24 through July 2. Designed to foster friendships between future leaders of different nations, the Games will bring together approximately 2,000 high school-aged students from more than 180 countries for a week of friendly competition, cultural exchange, leadership training and serious discussion about important global issues. United Nations staff will help scholar-athletes prepare position papers on global issues, which they will later present at the United Nations.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote address at the Games on Monday, 26 June. Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell from Maine, currently chairing a committee investigating the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in major league baseball, will give the closing address.

The United Nations has increasingly recognized the value of sport, which holds great appeal among youth, as a tool in global efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals -- the set of objectives adopted by all countries to be achieved by 2015. They cover the entire development spectrum – from education to the advancement of women and girls and the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases.