UNIVERSIADE GWANGJU 2015 UNOSDP

Steps forward for South & North Korea to join hands with each other at the Gwangju Universiade
   
The event’s organizing committee (co-chaired by Kang, Un-Tae and Chung, Eui-Hwa) held a signing ceremony for ‘UNOSDP-Gwangju Summer Universiade 2015 Joint Project’ on July 10^th at the Gwangju City Hall Business Room and launched a sports exchange program for peace in Korean peninsula.

UNOSDP is the United Nation’s sports policy executive body, and as the vehicle for facilitating peace and development, it has been organizing sports activities in developing countries and countries in conflict.

On the day of the ceremony, the chairperson of the organizing committee, Kang, Un-Tae, signed the agreement with the special adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, who will be making a visit to Gwangju on behalf of the United Nations, and implement Inter-Korean Sports Exchanges for formation of United Korean team at the Gwangju Universiade 2015 and ‘EPIC Project’, the international mentoring program, for the youths in the world.

- Significance as the first agreement between the Untied Nations and Sports Organizing Committee in Asia

 The significance of this Memorandum of Agreement lies in that this is the first agreement signed between UNOSDP and International Sports Organizing Committee in Asia and that UNOSDP agreed to be the direct mediator and to provide support for the peace in Korean Peninsula.

Under the Agreement, UNOSDP and Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) will host Inter-Korean Sports Exchange similar to Peace and Sports Cup 2011 and annual Youth Leadership Camp organized for the youth in developing countries and invite North Korea to the Camp as well. Under the mediation of UNOSDP, through regular sports exchange until the year 2015, GUOC plans to accomplish formation of United Korean Team in more than two sports disciplines at the Gwangju Universiade 2015.

- Experts in five fields- Environment, Peace, IT, Culture and Development-  become EPIC Speakers and mentors for youths

Nobel Peace Laureate, international environmentalist, artist, IT innovator and international figure in sports development will be selected as EPIC Speakers and, in addition, next generation value sharing projects for spreading of Gwangju Universiade visions (EPIC) and value of the United Nations (the Millennium Development Goals) to the youths in the world will begin in full swing after the signing ceremony until 2015.

EPIC Speakers will communicate with the youths through EPIC website, attend annual Youth Leadership Camp and forum in Korea and act as mentors for youths.  By the end of this year, the EPIC Speakers will be finalized after a few selection processes.

Special Adviser of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Sport for Development and Peace, Wilfried Lemke, commented on the crucial role sport plays as a tool for bringing in a more peaceful world and development in our community.  Also he stated that UNOSDP and GUOC will share their expertise, resources and outreach activities to promote UN MDGs and peace through sport until 2015, as well as to bring a successful sports event hosted ever.  Mr. Lemke expressed his anticipation on this new partnership with GUOC as a vehicle for reaching out to the world, delivering messages from the United Nations and its programs.

Chairperson Kang, Un-Tae also expressed his expectation on the role Mr. Lemke will play in achieving the formation of Inter-Korean Team for Gwangju Universiade 2015 as Mr. Lemke successfully brought two Koreas together in Peace and Sports Cup 2011 hosted in Doha, Qatar.  He stated that with active mediation and support from the United Nations, Gwangju Universiade 2015 will be another milestone in sport history in Korea. Gwangju Universiade will be hosted for 13 days in the beginning of July 2015 and around 20,000 athletes from 170 countries will participate in the event.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Special Adviser Mr. Wilfried Lemke, who was also general manager in one of the top football clubs in Europe, will visit Gwangju Segwang School and play soccer with children with optical impairments at the Hiddink Dream Field.  At the Hanyang University Olympic Stadium on July 11^th at 2 p.m., he will give a special lecture on the topic of ‘Sport for Development and Peace’, have a meeting with minister of culture, sport and tourism, Choi, Gwang Sik, afterward and depart on the 12^th.