Deputy Secretary-General's opening remarks for International Day of Sport for Development and Peace Event [as prepared for delivery].

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to join in this celebration of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

As Nelson Mandela reminded us: 'Sport has the power to change the world'.

In time of divisions and distrust, sport helps bring people and communities together. Sport helps find common ground

Think about the 1995 Rugby World Cup as South Africa -- emerging from apartheid -- rallied together under the name of sport.

Think about the stories of soldiers climbing over the trenches on the first Christmas Eve of the First World War to play football and bring about a momentary truce on the Western Front.

Think about table tennis in the 1970s thawing tensions during the Cold War and giving birth to the term 'ping-pong diplomacy'.

Sport has the power to align our passion, energy and enthusiasm around a collective cause. And that is precisely when hope can be nurtured and trust can be regained.

It is in our collective interest to harness the tremendous power of sport to help build a better and more sustainable future for all.

Indeed, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development identified sport as an enabler of sustainable development.

Sport can help promote tolerance and respect, contribute to the empowerment of women and young people, and advance health, education and social inclusion.

The United Nations recognizes the power of sport to bring people together and achieve our common goals.

Last year, the Secretary-General issued a report on 'Strengthening the Global Framework for Leveraging Sport for Development and Peace'.

To direct our ambitions and efforts, both the 2017 Kazan Action Plan and the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030, are tools for convergence and coherence around sport for development and peace.

But, of course, no institution or entity can do it alone.

To achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we need partnerships between all parts of society, especially youth and local communities.

Today, you will learn more about some important sporting projects on which we are collaborating with an array of partners from around the world.

Let me cite two examples.

We are working closely with International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and...