Civil society partnerships

International Badminton Federation joins forces with UNICEF

LAUSANNE, 19 October 2004 – The International Badminton Federation (IBF) and UNICEF are pleased to announce the launch of their new global alliance. The new partnership between IBF and UNICEF was officially unveiled on 5 October at the International Olympic Committee Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

© UNICEF Geneva/2004/Guerrero

Left to right: IOC President Jacques Rogge, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, IBF President Korn Thapparansi, UN Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace Adolf Ogi, at the launch of the alliance.

“One of the key global languages is sport,” explained UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, “and the language of sport can bring people together. We are delighted to enter into this partnership – we want this to make a difference to people’s lives.”

IBF President Korn Thapparansi and Carol Bellamy signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony witnessed by IOC President Jacques Rogge and UN Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace Adolf Ogi.

“We consider this to be a great privilege for IBF to sign this agreement in the presence of Dr. Rogge and Mr. Ogi as witness,” said Mr.  Thapparansi.

Recognizing sport as an important means of improving the lives of children, the IBF-UNICEF collaboration will focus on promoting child protection, healthy recreation and universal access to quality basic primary education for children worldwide.

Among the partnership’s first actions will be the dedication of one of the IBF’s major events in 2005 to the children of the world. The IBF will encourage badminton players, coaches and officials to support the shared goals of the IBF and UNICEF.

UN Special Advisor on Sport for Development and Peace Adolf Ogi concluded: “I hope that this agreement will be an example to other federations and other UN agencies. We create a better world through the younger generation, and today we take a step towards that goal.”