UNITED NATIONS Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Black Canada , April 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach signed an agreement on Monday aimed at strengthening collaboration between the two organizations to promote the role of sport in development and peace.


"Sport has great power in bringing people together, improve public health and promote teamwork and mutual respect," Ban said following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at UN headquarters in New York, where he thanked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the wider Olympic movement for being " such a steadfast partner" of the world organization.


He noted that the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding between our organizations is a logical step after years of ever closer collaboration in using sport to promote development and peace.


In conflict areas such as Syria, the Central African Republic and South Sudan, and in the neighbouring countries which host millions of refugees, "sport has a role to play in helping to restore at least some sense of normalcy," Ban said.


It can "be used to bridge cultural, religious, ethnic and social divides," he stressed.


The agreement, which was signed in the presence of the President of the General Assembly John Ashe, recognizes the goal of the IOC and the Olympic movement to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport without discrimination of any kind.


Speaking at the ceremony, Bach said he hoped that this move will bring their cooperation "to an even higher level" and "even closer and better for humankind."


"Sport can change the world, but it cannot change the world alone," he said. "The Olympic movement is willing and ready to make its contribution to the most laudable efforts of the United Nations to maintain and build peace and to bring along social change."


He also called on all those implicated in confrontation to act on the Olympic message of dialogue and peace. "Please have the courage to have a direct personal dialogue at the highest level in the spirit of mutual respect, good will and peace," he said.


In his remarks, Ashe also praised the power of sport, particularly now as the international community is outlining the priority agenda following 2015, the deadline for the eight anti- poverty targets known as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).


"We hope to be able to count on the voices of athletes worldwide to put the spotlight on our new development goals, as well as to set an example by embracing sustainable practices," he said, adding the virtues of sport are "an ideal match for what we hope to achieve here at the United Nations."


The IOC, which was granted UN Observer Status in 2009, has long enjoyed strong ties with individual UN agencies, working with them globally on a number of initiatives that use sport as a tool for development and peace.


Monday's event is a continuation of the inaugural International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which was first celebrated on April 6 this year.


JINAN, East China, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian runners won the first edition of the Linyi International Marathon, which brought together about 20,000 competitors on Sunday.


In men's category, Ethiopian runner Sleman Dese Endris grabbed the first place in two hours 14 minutes and nine seconds ahead of his countryman Wale Alebachew Debas, who finished second in 2:14:10. Ndiso Dennis Musembi of Kenya won the bronze with a time of 2:14:14.


The women's gold went to Fekade Almaz Negede of Ethiopia in 2:33:54. The runner-up was Kenyan Bundotich Pamela Chepkoech (2:34:01). Ethiopian Worke Tirualem Bekele took the third place in 2:42:27.