[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 633 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 633

 Supporting the goals and ideals of the United Nations Office on Sport 
                       for Development and Peace.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 10, 2009

Mr. Sires (for himself, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Miller of North 
 Carolina, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Carnahan, Mr. Meeks of New York, Mr. Costa, 
 Mr. Ellison, and Mr. Hare) submitted the following resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of the United Nations Office on Sport 
                       for Development and Peace.

Whereas the United Nations believes that the fundamental principles of sport, 
        including respect for rules and opponents, teamwork, and fair play, are 
        consistent with the principles stated in the United Nations Charter;
Whereas the United Nations supports improving the health and personal growth of 
        people of all ages, but particularly of young people;
Whereas the United Nations believes sport can contribute to economic and social 
        development in large and small communities by generating employment and 
        economic activity;
Whereas the United Nations promotes sport as a way to build a culture of peace 
        and tolerance by bringing people together on common ground to advance 
        understanding and mutual respect;
Whereas, since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a number of 
        resolutions endorsing the development of a relationship with the 
        International Olympic Committee;
Whereas the right to participate in sports has been embodied in the United 
        Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations 
        Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against 
        Women;
Whereas the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committees 
        have finalized cooperation agreements with a number of United Nations 
        programs, including the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of 
        the High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development 
        Programme, and the United Nations Environment Programme, in order to 
        bring the benefits of sport to refugees and other individuals affected 
        by conflict, and in order to fight social exclusion and environmental 
        degradation;
Whereas, in 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
        Organization adopted an International Charter of Physical Education and 
        Sport as a result of its work with the International Olympic Committee;
Whereas, since 1984, the World Health Organization has been engaged with the 
        sporting world to promote a healthy lifestyle and the benefits of 
        physical activity;
Whereas, in March 2003, a task force of United Nations experts submitted a 
        report to then-Secretary General Kofi Annan containing recommendations 
        for an increased role of sport in helping to accomplish the Millennium 
        Development Goals; and
Whereas, upon receiving the report, then-Secretary General Kofi Annan said the 
        work and report were ``important steps towards making more effective use 
        of sport to improve the lives of the people--and particularly young 
        people--served by the United Nations and its related programs and 
        agencies'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of sport as a way to promote 
        peace and tolerance around the world;
            (2) supports the use of sport as way of promoting a healthy 
        lifestyle; and
            (3) recognizes the important work and international 
        contributions of the United Nations Office on Sport for 
        Development and Peace.
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