The United Nations General Assembly, held in late September, unanimously adopted a historic resolution titled “Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development,” highlighting the crucial unifying role of the Olympic and Paralympic Games at a global level. This resolution, published on November 5 as A/79/L.10, received the backing of all 193 UN member states and recognizes sport as a catalyst for social and economic development, peace, and equality. The document also reinforces the Games’ mission to promote peaceful and discrimination-free competition, emphasizing mutual respect and international cooperation.
During his address to the General Assembly, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach underscored how the Paris 2024 Olympic Games embodied this mission of unity and peace. According to Bach, athletes exemplified the ideal of peaceful coexistence by competing under the same roof, showcasing the Olympic spirit of respect and solidarity despite political divides or conflicts in their home countries.
OLYMPIC SPIRIT AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
In his speech, Bach recalled that the Paris Olympics culminated a decade of deep collaboration between the UN and the IOC. Since signing a memorandum of understanding in 2014, the UN and IOC have launched joint initiatives that view sport as a “global accelerator” for peace and development. For Bach, peace is the most crucial of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and he considered the peaceful coexistence among athletes worldwide in the Olympic Village a tangible symbol of this shared vision.
Paris 2024 embodied the Olympic ideal of peaceful coexistence, with athletes from the 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team competing intensely yet cohabiting harmoniously in the Olympic Village. “Despite the wars affecting many of their countries, athletes showed mutual respect, creating a culture of peace,” Bach stated, affirming the IOC’s commitment to political neutrality, creating a space where athletes serve as a model of coexistence.
INCLUSION AND EQUALITY: THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT
Bach also highlighted the equality and respect present at the Olympic Games, where there is no division between the “global north” and “global south.” All participants who respect the Olympic Charter are welcomed into the “global village” of the Olympic Village. Addressing allegations of IOC politicization for sanctioning the Russian Olympic Committee, Bach explained that this action was necessary due to Russia’s annexation of sports organizations in Ukraine, a violation of both the Olympic Charter and the United Nations Charter.
Despite this suspension, the IOC allowed Russian athletes to compete in Paris under neutral status, without reference to the Russian Olympic Committee’s symbols. “We know sport cannot create peace; only political leaders can,” Bach said, calling on the General Assembly members to give peace a chance.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND A DIGITAL FUTURE
In his address, Bach also urged countries to strengthen cooperation with their National Olympic Committees, promoting sport as a development tool. He proposed that governments integrate sport into their national development plans, creating mutual benefits to achieve global goals.
The IOC President closed his speech by advocating for global regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) under UN leadership, to safeguard human dignity and ensure equitable progress. Through its Olympic AI Agenda, launched in April this year, the IOC aims to apply AI in sports responsibly and ethically, aligning with Olympic values.
A DECADE OF COLLABORATION AND BEYOND
Before concluding, Bach expressed gratitude for the “decade of partnership and friendship” between the UN and IOC, which he said has been essential in promoting peace and development through sport. In his final address to the UN as IOC President, Bach encouraged member states to maintain this spirit of collaboration with his successor, to continue making the world a better place through sport.
