Speech of the President of the Russian Paralympic Comittee Vladimir Lukin at the Solemn ceremony for proclamation of communiqué of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, Federative Republic of Brazil and Republic of Korea on 29th August 2012
Dear Colleagues!
First of all, I would like to thank the British side for the initiative to organise this meeting and to develop a Joint communiqué of the countries-hosts of the closest four Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This document will be as I believe, a new step in understanding and application of Universal Declaration of Human Rights through sport and Olympic ideals, in our countries and in the majority of others.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Olympic Charter and Regulations of International Paralympic Committee proclaim such splendid panhuman ideals and principles as equality, humanism, justice, tolerance, social cohesion, mutual understanding and respect, healthy lifestyle.
In order to bring these principles to life one of the most effective instruments is sport. It gives people opportunity to communicate, cooperate, unite and compete on a healthy basis and on equal terms by following the principle of “fair play”.
I’d like to underline that today the very four countries are responsible for the real progress in this undertaking. Because as we all understand during the nearest four years the attention of the world sports public and indeed the whole world community will be drawn to preparation and holding of Olympic and Paralympic Games in our countries. London is already taking up the torch. We are on the starting blocks!
This idea on similarity of principles which lay the foundation of Olympic Charter, Regulations of International Paralympic Committee and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the important role of sport and sporting events in upbringing of youth, struggling with any kinds of discrimination and violence, preventing conflicts and so on, is not a new one.
However it is important today to fill this idea up, with a practical content and effective precise actions. One of these actions as I see is acceptance and proclaiming of our Joint communiqué.
For the first time in history we have a document which not only declares the necessity in understanding and application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through sport and Olympic ideals, but also commits the countries organising the largest sporting events to do it in practice.
Besides I would like to make a warning which I used to make before, in Geneva, and wish to repeat it today. Under this warning I mean a very fine line between increasing the role of Olympic and Paralympic Games in observing global rights and liberties proclaimed by the Universal Declaration, and aggravation of politicization of the Games. We already know such examples in the history of sport. I am convinced that Olympic and Paralympic Games should not be a vehicle for promoting any particular political agenda but rather a universal celebration of peace and human dignity.
As interest in the Arctic region, its exploration and preservation, rapidly grows, the Arctic Council is getting more hands to help out with the new Permanent Arctic Council Secretariat starting its work in northern Norway.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentleman,
I am delighted to welcome you today at the Russian Embassy on the occasion of our national holiday. Dear guests, welcome to Russia!
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Dear veterans, Please, accept heart-felt greetings on the 68th anniversary of our common Victory over Nazi Germany. I would like to express our gratitude for the invaluable contribution you and your Arctic Convoys comrades-in-arms made to the defeat of fascism.
Your Grace, Your Excellencies, Dear Veterans, Friends. Today, we have come here, to the Soviet War Memorial, to mark the day of greatest victory, the day of peace and triumph of human spirit, the day when good triumphed over evil, over fascism.
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