IOC President to speak at UN General Assembly

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach smiles at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, Sept 16, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

LAUSANNE - International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach will speak at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 in New York on Saturday, according to the IOC official website.

The Summit will adopt the post-2015 Development Agenda on September 25.

In the final outcome document, sport is mentioned as "an important enabler of sustainable development".

The declaration highlights what sport can contribute to achieve some of the most important of these like peace, health and education.

The post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will include for the first time recognition of sport's important contribution to global sustainable development.

"This is another acknowledgement of the important role of sport in society, one of the major issues of Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement," said Bach.

"It shows that with Olympic Agenda 2020 we are aligned with the United Nations post-2015 Development Agenda.

"This new agenda specifically acknowledges the important role that sport plays promoting healthy lifestyles, education and social inclusion. It recognizes the benefits of sport for all and its ability to empower women and young people."