Football fans now have a day to celebrate the world’s most popular sport — May 25 | KLRT
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press
41 minutes ago
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Football fans around the world will now have a day to celebrate the world’s most popular sport every year — May 25.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Tuesday proclaiming May 25th as World Football Day. The sport is called football outside the United States.
The day marks the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament in history with representation from all regions, held on May 25, 1924, during the Summer Olympic Games held in Paris, according to the resolution.
The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus with a hammer blow from its president, Dennis Francis, to applause from diplomats in the assembly chamber. It was co-sponsored by more than 160 countries.
Libya’s UN Ambassador Taher El-Sonni, who introduced the resolution, told the assembly: “Football, or soccer as others call it, is the most played and followed game across the world.”
But he stressed that football is more than a game played by all ages in the streets, in villages, in schools and in playgrounds for fun and in competitions.
Due to its “unparalleled position” in the world of sports, El-Sonni said, “football serves as a universal language spoken across the world, crossing national, cultural and socioeconomic barriers.”
He said the game has become “a fundamental platform” that advocates gender equality and social inclusion, “a common ground where individuals from diverse backgrounds converge, promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, respect and solidarity”.
It also recognizes “the fundamental role” of football’s international governing body, FIFA, and the important role of regional and national football federations, as well as relevant associations, in promoting the game.
The resolution encourages all countries to support football and other sports as a tool to promote peace, development and the empowerment of women and girls. It also encourages countries to adopt policies and programs to promote football and other sports and physical activities.
On May 25, the resolution “invites” all nations, UN bodies, international organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector to observe World Football Day in line with national priorities “and to publicize the advantages of football for everyone, including through educational actions”. and public awareness activities.”
