UN Praises Qatar's Role in Launch of Global Program on Security of Major Sporting Events

UN Praises Qatar's Role in Launch of Global Program on Security of Major Sporting Events

New York / Information Office / February 05

The United Nations praised the role of the State of Qatar and its support for the launch of the global program to secure major sporting events and to harness sport as a tool to combat terrorism.

In a speech during the first session of the program meeting, UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov thanked the State of Qatar for its generous support, saying: "Let me start by thanking the generous support to this UNOCT Initiative of the Government of the State of Qatar- who also gave us the idea to develop this Global Program and helped us to launch it."

He added that the support extended by Qatar along with China and South Korea constitutes a global dimension to the global program on security of major sporting events and acquires special importance.

For his part, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos praised the government of the State of Qatar, which put sport at the forefront of its agenda from the security perspective as a soft force to prevent violent extremism.

Moratinos said that when he was in Qatar seven years ago he witnessed that Qatar put education, sports and youth as priorities and made them pillars and goals within its development path, adding that "the State of Qatar has succeeded in convincing us that sports should have a place in foreign policy".

For her part, Director of the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute Research Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas praised the role of the State of Qatar, expressing her deep appreciation for the generous support provided to ensure the successful launch of this project.

In turn, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani affirmed that the State of Qatar is among the first supporters of the global program to secure major sporting events and harness sports as a tool to combat terrorism.

In the opening session, Her Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar has prioritized the support of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and the international strategy to combat violent extremism in support of projects that focus on victims of terrorism, youth and sports security, while referring the agreement signed by the State of Qatar with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism to establish a center in Doha to study behavioral information and the causes that lead to violent extremism.

HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani mentioned Qatar's annual donation of one million dollars to the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism as well as Qatar's hosting of the International Center for Sport Security.

Her Excellency highlighted the preparations being made by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, the organizing committee for the World Cup Qatar 2022, through the formation of the security committee tasked with the protection of sport facilities.

HE the Ambassador said that the State of Qatar presents an ideal model of protecting sports facilities and events in light of terrorist threats targeting major sporting events, stressing that Qatar is among the 20 most secure countries in the world.

With the support of the State of Qatar, China and South Korea, the 'Global Program on Security of Major Sporting Events and Promotion of Sport and its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism' was launched on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The program was launched during the opening session of a meeting organized by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism in partnership with the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the International Centre for Sport Security and the Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate.

This new program is aiming at developing innovative policies and practices to strengthen the protection of major sporting events through enhanced international cooperation, public-private partnerships and sustainable security approaches, while promoting the values of sport as a powerful means to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov opened the session, stressing that sport is a fundamental and true human value, and a strong vaccine against any kind of criminal disease.

"Over the past decade, terrorists have conducted a number of deadly attacks against soft targets and crowded places resulting in casualties, panic, and severe damage to the way of life and the economy of affected countries.

"Let us recall the attacks against the1972 and 1996 Olympics, and the bombings during the 2008 Sri Lanka and 2013 Boston marathons."

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism added that sport has always played a significant role in the dissemination of positive values across civilizations and cultures.

He added, "Protecting major sporting events entails multi-level cooperation and coordination, as well as complex security and policing arrangements- including securing locations; cybersecurity; and crisis planning and management; strategic communication, etc."

UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos welcomed the United Nations program, saying that the launch of the Global Program on Security of Major Sporting Events and Promotion of Sport and its Values is a successful model of a unified approach strategy for the United Nations in meeting the global need to protect major sporting events.

He continued by saying that sports events are a common benefit for the international community by developing advanced policies and practices to enhance their security, calling for the provision of initiatives and activities that promote sport as a tool for social inclusion and promote values inherent in sport such as respect for others, discipline, leadership and flexibility.

In a recorded video, HE Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi praised the United Nations Global Program on Security of Major Sporting Events.

His Excellency stressed the importance of international efforts to make sport a tool to combat violent extremism and terrorism. He also reviewed the steps taken by the Supreme Committee with all parties concerned to provide protection, security and safety for the World Cup Qatar 2022.

The opening session was attended by the permanent representatives of China and South Korea to the United Nations. For the first time, the expert group on securing major sporting events participated in the two-day meeting. The meeting also brought together experts from member countries that have previously hosted major sporting events, and others that will host major sporting events.

The meeting was also attended by experts from international and regional organizations, sports federations and the private sector.