78 Years Engaging Global Citizens
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017 On April 6, 2017, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and the United Nations Association of Russia, hosted Russian chess Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov at UN Headquarters to highlight the positive role of sports in achieving […]
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017
On April 6, 2017, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and the United Nations Association of Russia, hosted Russian chess Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov at UN Headquarters to highlight the positive role of sports in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Anatoly Karpov is the former chess World Champion 1975-1985 and FIDE World Champion 1993-1999. The evening reception celebrated and raised awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which was proclaimed by the United Nations in 2013 and is celebrated annually on April 6, the first day of the first Olympic Games in 1896.
“We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Anatoly Karpov on this day to celebrate his distinction in chess and recognize sport as an enabler of sustainable development, as acknowledged in the 2030 Agenda,” said Mr. Bonian Golmohammadi, Secretary-General of WFUNA.
The reception featured opening remarks from Mr. Petr V. Iliichev, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations: “Sport is a universal language […] and can play a unique role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mrs. Isabelle Picco, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of The Principality of Monaco to the United Nations, and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace, Mr. Alexey Borisov, Secretary-General of United Nations Association of Russia and Chair of the Executive Committee of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, and Mr. Anatoly Karpov also spoke.
Grandmaster Karpov then played speed chess simultaneously against a diverse group of challengers, including ambassadors and other Member State representatives, UN officials, and youth from Chess in the Schools, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to improving academic performance and building self-esteem among innercity public school children in New York City. All games ended in favor of Karpov, excluding one draw against Ms. Nancy Wang, age 15, from Chess in the Schools.
The event was live tweeted using the hashtag #ChesSDGs. Scroll through the Twitter Moment here.
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