New York - information office - 24 June

The United Nations Office for Combating Terrorism and the International Center for Sports Security (ICSS) today signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in the prevention and control of terrorism and to protect vulnerable targets in the context of major sporting events.

The agreement was co- signed by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office Vladimir Voronkov, and the Chairman and CEO of the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) Mohammed Hanzab, in the presence of HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations.

The agreement aims at implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and promoting public-private partnership during the preparation of major sporting events and other international sports competitions.

Voronkov welcomed the agreement and considered that the partnership with the Center for International Security of Sport was an initiative that contributed to preventing the spread of violent extremism leading to terrorism, recalling UN Security Council Resolution 2396 (2017) calling on Member States to protect vulnerable targets in the context of major sporting events.

For his part, Mohammed Al Hanzab expressed the pride of the International Center for Sport Security to start this cooperation with the United Nations and to provide assistance to promote and develop international approaches to enhance the security of major sports events.

For her part, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed Bin Saif Al-Thani welcomed the partnership and said "Qatar attaches great importance to sport as a means of achieving peace and development". She added that Qatar is pleased to host many major sporting events, which will enable it to contribute to the provision of valuable standards for the successful management of sports and other major events.