As the world gathers in London for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United Nations is celebrating the spirit of the Games.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon travelled to London to promote the shared ideals of the Olympic movement and the world body. On Thursday 26 July at 6pm, he took part in the Torch Relay in front of Westminster Abbey. On Friday 27 July, he joined the UK Foreign Secretary in calling for a truce to be observed during the Games, before carrying the Olympic Flag at the Opening Ceremony.
A number of UN agencies are holding events, campaigns and exhibitions during the Games:
UN Refugee Agency - Giving is Winning campaign: This worldwide campaign, run in partnership with the International Olympic Committee and LOCOG, invites athletes, sponsors and members of the Olympic Movement to donate unused clothing and sports outfits to refugee camps South Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and other locations.
The inaugural campaign in Athens (2004), saw 30,000 items collected. At Beijing four years later, it was 75,000. For the London 2012 Games, UNHCR is aiming to collect 100,000 items. The campaign was officially launched on 23 July at the Olympic Village.
To find out more and to make a donation, visit www.olympic.org/givingiswinning
UN.GIFT - trafficking art installation: ‘GIFT box’ is an innovative project created by STOP THE TRAFFIK and the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) which will be launched during the 2012 Olympics.
GIFT boxes are walk-in pieces of public art that people will encounter at street level in London, enticing them in with promises. Once inside the truth will be revealed ...
Click here find out more and see whether there is a box near you
UNAIDS - free public event: Dr Djibril Diallo, Senior Advisor to the UNAIDS Executive Director, will speak at the South Bank Centre on 28 July 2012 as part of the Africa Utopia Festival. He will look at the role of sport in AIDS advocacy, the UNAIDS' 'Give AIDS the Red Card' initiative and how to empower young people in the AIDS response.
This is a free event but tickets are required. Click here to book your place
World Food Programme - Hunger to Hope exhbition: To celebrate the 2012 Olympics and mark its 50th anniversary, the WFP London office has launched – together with Crossrail – an inspirational exhibition of photos in the capital, showing children from the developing world playing games.
The ‘Hunger to Hope’ exhibition is displayed on Crossrail boardings at two major sites – in Paddington and Holborn. The images of children at play have been donated to WFP by some of the world’s leading photographers, with the aim of reminding Londoners and visitors that adequate food and nourishment are needed by children around the world to give them the energy to play.
