(BEIJING, January 23) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge conferred on the potential positive impact of this summer's Beijing Olympics as the two leaders met at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on Tuesday.
In his first official visit to the IOC, Ban extended his full cooperation and support for Beijing 2008, saying: "I am very happy and satisfied by the partnership between the United Nations and the IOC and the way in which we use sport in our common efforts to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation.
"Sport is a powerful tool. Specifically this year, we look forward to a very successful Beijing Olympic Games, believing that Beijing 2008 can bring much spirit, harmony, friendship, dialogue and reconciliation for the world."
Ban and Rogge agreed on an expanded framework for the two world organizations. They also discussed the IOC's commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals and how the IOC can use sport as a catalyst in partnership with the UN.
The IOC has identified five development goals it believes it can help advance through sport and with its partners. These are: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality and empowering women, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing a global partnership for development, according to IOC official website.
The Secretary-General also lauded Mr. Rogge for being recognized as 2007 Champion of the Earth by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), according to UN information.
The two leaders last met in October in New York City, when the UN General Assembly adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution for this year's Beijing Olympic Games.
