The President of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid took part alongside International Olympic Committee, President Thomas Bach, in the Olympic torch relay. The Olympic Torch Relay was headed towards the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 with help of United Nations (UN) General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
After carrying the torch, Mr. Shahid stated that the Olympic Flame symbolizes tolerance, solidarity, and hope. He also compared the work of the UN to the role of the IOC and the Olympic Games in promoting peace.
“The Olympics represent humanity at its best - the best of the coming together to compete graciously, to accept winning with humility and defeat with graciousness. That is what the event is about. And that is what the Olympic flame represents. And as the UN President of the General Assembly, I was privileged today to have that honor,” Shahid said.
“We represent peace. The United Nations, the Charter of the United Nations, was established, was declared, to maintain international peace and security to avoid war and destruction. The IOC maintains and provides the platform for people of all nations, irrespective of their beliefs - political, religious, ethnic - any of these differences. And that platform provides the best opportunity for peace.”
Mr. Shahid went on to say that, by coming together in harmony, Olympic athletes from around the world advance the cause of peace through their interactions. He called on everyone to imbibe the spirit of the games and come together to cherish the Olympic ideals of friendship, respect, and excellence.
“They do wear tracksuits, but they are the diplomats,” he said. “We want the young, the energetic women and men coming together, interacting with each other and providing the energy that we so badly need for promotion of peace.”
Earlier this year, he made a solemn appeal to the UN Member States in the General Assembly for the observance of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, following the resolution adopted in December.
The resolution calls for the Olympic Truce to be respected from 28 January to 20 March 2022 -– seven days before the start of the Olympic Winter Games until seven days after the Paralympic Games.
The President of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid is the first person from the Maldives to participate in the torch relay for the winter Olympics.
After carrying the torch, Mr. Shahid stated that the Olympic Flame symbolizes tolerance, solidarity, and hope. He also compared the work of the UN to the role of the IOC and the Olympic Games in promoting peace.
“The Olympics represent humanity at its best - the best of the coming together to compete graciously, to accept winning with humility and defeat with graciousness. That is what the event is about. And that is what the Olympic flame represents. And as the UN President of the General Assembly, I was privileged today to have that honor,” Shahid said.
“We represent peace. The United Nations, the Charter of the United Nations, was established, was declared, to maintain international peace and security to avoid war and destruction. The IOC maintains and provides the platform for people of all nations, irrespective of their beliefs - political, religious, ethnic - any of these differences. And that platform provides the best opportunity for peace.”
Mr. Shahid went on to say that, by coming together in harmony, Olympic athletes from around the world advance the cause of peace through their interactions. He called on everyone to imbibe the spirit of the games and come together to cherish the Olympic ideals of friendship, respect, and excellence.
“They do wear tracksuits, but they are the diplomats,” he said. “We want the young, the energetic women and men coming together, interacting with each other and providing the energy that we so badly need for promotion of peace.”
Earlier this year, he made a solemn appeal to the UN Member States in the General Assembly for the observance of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, following the resolution adopted in December.
The resolution calls for the Olympic Truce to be respected from 28 January to 20 March 2022 -– seven days before the start of the Olympic Winter Games until seven days after the Paralympic Games.
The President of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid is the first person from the Maldives to participate in the torch relay for the winter Olympics.
