At a recent meeting in Beijing, the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge agreed to further strengthen cooperation between their two organisations. They committed themselves, more specifically, to encouraging joint programmes between Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and national Olympic committees, on issues such as HIV prevention and disaster preparedness.
Also present during the talks were Madame Peiyun Peng, President of the Red Cross Society of China and Madame Yiman Jiang, Executive Vice-President of the Red Cross Society of China.
The discussions came five years after an initial Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation was signed on 16 May 2003, in Madrid, linking sport to the needs of vulnerable people worldwide.
Over the last five years, there have been many examples of good cooperation between the International Federation and the IOC. Recently, for example, the IOC supported a national workshop on HIV prevention through sports in China that was co-hosted by the Red Cross Society of China.
“We share many common values. Our two Movements are based on the same ideals of humanitarianism, international solidarity, volunteerism and a commitment to world peace,” noted Federation President Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro. “We very much appreciated the fact that our MoU helped bring the experience and capacity of the volunteers of the Red Cross Society of China to the attention of the Beijing Organising Committee and we look forward to working even more closely together over the coming years.”
Similar support should be made available in future Olympic Games, and the Federation notes that useful discussions have been held at several levels in preparation for the 2012 Olympics in London. In addition, it was agreed that both organisations would work together for the first Youth Olymic Games, scheduled to be held in Singapore, in August 2010.
China Red Cross officials Peng and Jiang both expressed their appreciation to the IOC for its support for their society’s preparations for the Beijing Olympics, especially in the provision of first aid training to more than 10 million Olympic volunteers and the establishment of 2,200 Red Cross Social Service posts. They presented Jacques Rogge with the China Red Cross Medal for Life. Mr. Rogge commented that, although he had participated in many Olympic Games, this was his first gold medal!
Among other issues on the agenda were increasing the use of sports celebrities to support Red Cross and Red Crescent actions in public awareness campaigns, and opportunities for the IOC and the Federation to adopt common advocacy platforms such as fighting drug abuse and helping youth and athletes to stay drug-free.
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in many countries manage programmes with and in favour of persons with disabilities. The Olympic Movement’s progress in lifting the profile of the Paralympics is an excellent example of work to enhance the dignity and lifestyle prospects of persons with disabilities. This issue could also be a new area of cooperation at the international level to supplement work already done at the community level by Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and national Olympic committees.
(1) "Citius, Altius, Fortius", is the Olympic motto, which means "Faster, Higher, Stronger".
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The President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro (on the right) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (on the left) agreed to further strengthen cooperation between their two organisations. (p18137)
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During the talks, both President were accompanied by Mrs. Peng Peiyun President of the Chinese RC and Mrs. Jiang Yiman, Chinese RC representative to the Federation Governing Board and Mr. Manuel Fiol, Personal advisor of the Federation President. (p18138)
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China Red Cross officials Peng and Jiang presented Jacques Rogge with the China Red Cross Medal for Life. (p18139)
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