IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 633 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

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.