UNITED NATIONS, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday launched Football for the Goals, a new UN initiative that provides a platform for the global football community to engage with and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"The United Nations recognizes the powerful voice football carries in the global community and the role football can play in raising awareness for the SDGs through the popularity of the game. Not only is football the most popular sport in the world, it is also the most accessible," UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said at a virtual launching event earlier in the day.
"All you need is a ball for people to come together. Every day, millions of people all over the world play the game, whether on a makeshift field, in a school yard or in a giant stadium. That's why we are excited and proud to launch this initiative," the UN deputy chief added.
Aleksander Ceferin, president of the Union of European Football Associations, said at the event that "I am pleased that the United Nations recognizes the powerful voice that football carries in the global community and the role we can play in raising awareness of the sustainable development goals through the game's popularity."
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by world leaders at the historic Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. Encompassing everything from health to gender equality and education, the goals are mobilizing efforts around the world to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change by 2030, while ensuring that no one is left behind. ■
