Remarks by the President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly,
H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang?
on Opening Ceremony for World Football Day
(As Delivered)
22 May 2025
?
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
It is my distinct pleasure and privilege to join you today for the inaugural commemoration of World Football Day.
Marking the centenary of the 1924 Olympic football tournament, the General Assembly adopted resolution 78/281, selecting 25 May as World Football Day.
I commend the Permanent Missions of Bahrain, Libya, and Tajikistan for initiating and advancing the resolution.
In Cameroon, football is a passion, it is more than just a sport,
It is a way of life which has brought communities together for generations.
I therefore applaud today¡¯s initiative, for football has the rare ability to bridge the divides of language, culture and geography.
In times of division and mistrust like the ones we live in, football can act as unifier; bringing out in all of us the spirit of camaraderie and collaboration that is so intrinsic to this sport of football.
Dear friends,
Football is not only entertaining; it fosters tolerance, mutual respect and friendship.
From small villages and townships to sprawling cities; from muddy fields to state-of-the-art stadiums, it is a thread that binds people.
For participants and spectators alike it elicits joy, pride, a sense of belonging and ¨C if you are lucky ¨C triumph.
It also teaches respect, compassion, solidarity, and forgiveness.
As the resolution emphasises, football promotes inclusion and participation ¡®without any discrimination.¡¯
In regions recovering from conflict, it has a healing effect on everybody.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office on Sport for Development and Peace reports that football programmes have significantly reduced youth violence and boosted civic engagement.
Football can help break down barriers, foster social integration, and encourage dialogue.
Football is not just a game; it is a strategic asset in achieving the United Nations goals of sustainable development, peace and security, and respect for human rights.
Excellencies,
As we all celebrate this asset to humanity, we must also ask how we use it better for our goals.
This includes initiatives such as the United Nations¡¯ ¡®Football for the Goals¡¯ initiative, which engages clubs and federations, and aims to transforms football into a global partner for sustainability.
In addition, the F¨¦d¨¦ration Internationale de Football Association¡¯s Women¡¯s Football Strategy has spurred a 24% increase in female participation since 2019, advancing gender equality.
Let us hope this is just the start.
Let us harness football¡¯s full potential ¨C to not only score goals on the field, but to advance the goals of our common humanity.
Thank You very much.
Media Contacts
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Resolutions of the 79th Session ¨C Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly