Our Common Humanity in the Information Age. Principles and Values for Development

 

---

212 | Our Common Humanity in the Information Age
ANNEX 6 
SUMMARY OF THE INTERACTIVE LUNCHEON
Organized by the International Council for Caring Communities
on 29 November 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters
In conjunction with the “Our Common Humanity in the Information Age” event, the 
International Council for Caring Communities sponsored an Interactive Luncheon for 
Conference speakers, participants and United Nations representatives and officials. This 
unique event’s objective was to stimulate discussion around three basic questions and 
highlight the “Art of the Olympians,” an exhibit of art work created by 9 renowned 
Olympians who have now turned their endeavors to expressing concepts of "our common 
humanity" through art.
The short luncheon program included statements by Mr. Sarbuland Khan (GAID), Mr. 
Amir Dossal (UNFIP), Mr. Ruedi Christen, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the 
United Nations, Ms. Liston Bochette, Secretary-General of the World Olympians 
Association, Ms. Diane Davis (ICCC).
The discussions led to the following conclusions:
§ Sport can be used as a tool to reach the Millennium Development Goals.
§ Sport and Art have a long tradition: elegance, dynamism, the beauty of power, 
elements that have inspired many of the great painters and sculptors. The art 
exhibited represents a strong expression of deep personal experience and an 
invitation to discuss sport in a broader way.
§ Switze rland, along with Tunisia, had established the Group of Friends for Sport for 
Development and peace. The main work of the group is to support the mandate of 
the Special Adviser to the Secretary -General for Sport for Development and Peace, 
the former President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Adolf Ogi.

---

Annexes | 213
§ In the final report on the International Year of Sport and Physical Education 2005, 
there are numerous examples of how sport can influence the process of reconciliation 
in post-conflict situations, play an important role in post-disaster situations and 
create opportunities for the integration of women into society.
The event represented another entry point for a discussion on how sport can contribute to 
the creation of a better world. 
At the interactive roundtables, participants discussed three questions that dealt with the 
theme of the conference.