On his first official visit to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea will meet tomorrow with IOC President Jacques Rogge to discuss IOC and UN cooperation. 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.

Among topics for the scheduled one-and-a-half hour meeting are the IOC’s commitment to UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The IOC has identified five development goals it believes it can help advance through sport and with its partners. They include eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting greater equality for women, combating HIV/AIDS as well as malaria and other diseases, environmental sustainability, and collaboration with governments on a global partnership for development.

The IOC currently works with a wide array of UN specialised agencies and organisations around the world to benefit youth and community. For example, the IOC is currently discussing collaboration with the African Union/UN Hybrid Operation (UNAMID) to contribute to peacekeeping activities in Darfur, Sudan. The IOC will continue to contribute to humanitarian aid efforts in the region.

In tomorrow’s meeting, President Rogge and the Secretary General will also discuss ways in which the IOC and UN can work together more closely to explore ways in which sport and the Olympic Movement can help support humanitarian goals.

A photo opportunity will be organised on arrival of the UN delegation, during the visit of the IOC HQ, before the beginning of the meeting and on departure of the delegation.

WHEN:             Tuesday, 22 January 2008 – from 1.10 p.m.

WHERE:           IOC Headquarters, Château de Vidy, Lausanne

Media interested in covering the event are requested to contact the IOC Media Relations team: Tel: +41 21 621 60 00, email: pressoffice@olympic.org