Presentation on the Place of Sport in the UN Agenda at the "Tournament of Champions" Squash Tournament in New York

From left to right:  H. E. Ms. Isabelle Picco, Permanent Representative to the UN;  Valerie Ackerman, first President of the Women's National Basketball Association;  Sarah Fitz-Gerald, five-times World Squash Champion;  Ashley Bernard, Founder of the Tournament of Champions Women's Squash Leadership Programme;  and H. E. Ms. Pennelope Beckles, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations©DR

On 23 January 2018, Ambassador Isabelle Picco, Permanent Representative to the UN, was invited to give a presentation on the place of sport for development and peace in the UN Agenda, on the occasion of the 5^th "Tournament of Champions"* - Women's Leadership Award Programme.

Many high-level athletes were present at this event.  In her speech, the Ambassador recalled that the first General Assembly resolution in the field of sport was adopted almost 25 years ago.  She also explained that, every two years, this Assembly adopts a resolution on the Olympic truce and the Olympic ideal, which will take on its full significance this year prior to the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea.

The work of UN Member States and UN Agencies and Programmes and that of the International Olympic Committee in promoting the development of important cooperation activities with the United Nations system was thus highlighted.

The money raised at this event was donated to the Women's Sports Foundation, which was founded by tennis champion Billie Jean King in 1974 - a true visionary, whose tireless commitment is bearing fruit today.

* The " Tournament of Champions" was created in 1993 and now takes place every January at the Grand Central Terminal Station.