PARIS / GUTERRES OLYMPICS

As the 2024 summer Olympic Games get underway in Paris, Secretary-General António Guterres said the Games “are a symbol of universality and diversity. A symbol of cooperation and loyal competition, instead of division and conflict.” IOC / UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:03:04
• Production Date: 26 July 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES; THOMAS BACH
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE - IOC
• Subject Topical: OLYMPIC GAMES; OLYMPIC TRUCE; SECRETARY-GENERAL; PEACE AND SECURITY; SPORTS
• Geographic Subject: FRANCE
• MAMS Id: 3241107
• Parent Id: 3241107
• Alternate Title: unifeed240726b

Description

STORY: PARIS / GUTERRES OLYMPICS
TRT: 03:04
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 JULY 2024, PARIS, FRANCE / PRERECORDED 09 JULY 2024 NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

26 JULY 2024, PARIS, FRANCE

1. Wide shot, Secretary-General António Guterres and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, walk up to microphones
2. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“We live in a divided world, where conflicts are proliferating in a dramatic way. The horrendous suffering in Gaza, the seemingly endless war in Ukraine, terrible suffering from Sudan to the DRC, from the Sahel to Myanmar. And in a moment like this, it's important to say that the first recorded in history real peace initiative was the Olympic Truce. And so, in a moment in which the Olympic Games are going to start, it's time to remind the world of the importance of the Olympic Truce and to make the world understand that we must silence the guns. On the other hand, nothing is more contrary to conflict than the Olympic experience. The Olympic Games are a symbol of universality and diversity. A symbol of cooperation and loyal competition, instead of division and conflict. And so, this is the moment in which my strong appeal is for countries to come together with the same spirit as athletes, who will be coming together during the Olympic Games in Paris.”
3. Wide shot, Guterres and Bach
4. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I would like to express my deep gratitude for what the Olympic Committee has made to allow a refugee team to compete in the Olympics once again. I was High Commissioner for Refugees for ten years, and it's important to leave no one behind, and not to leave behind those that were forced to flee, to leave their countries, and have the same rights to practice sports as any other citizen of the world.”
5. Wide shot, Guterres and Bach shake hands

PRERECORDED 09 JULY 2024 NEW YORK CITY

6. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Bonjour and welcome to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The world gathers in Paris to celebrate the power of sport. To bring hope. To transcend cultures. To unite people. To promote mutual respect and fair play. These are also the ideals of the United Nations. In the spirit of the Olympic Truce, I call on everyone to lay down their arms. Build bridges. Foster solidarity. And strive for the ultimate goal: peace for all. I wish every success to the Olympians and Paralympians. You inspire us to dream bigger. May the Olympic flame light the path to a world of peace and harmony. Merci beaucoup.”

Storyline

As the 2024 summer Olympic Games get underway in Parts, Secretary-General António Guterres today (26 Jul) said, the Games “are a symbol of universality and diversity. A symbol of cooperation and loyal competition, instead of division and conflict.”

Talking to reporters in Paris, accompanied by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, Guterres said, “we live in a divided world, where conflicts are proliferating in a dramatic way. The horrendous suffering in Gaza, the seemingly endless war in Ukraine, terrible suffering from Sudan to the DRC, from the Sahel to Myanmar. And in a moment like this, it's important to say that the first recorded in history real peace initiative was the Olympic Truce. And so, in a moment in which the Olympic Games are going to start, it's time to remind the world of the importance of the Olympic Truce and to make the world understand that we must silence the guns.”

He issued “a strong appeal is for countries to come together with the same spirit as athletes, who will be coming together during the Olympic Games in Paris.”

The UN Chief, who previously served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a period of 10 years, expressed “deep gratitude for what the Olympic Committee has made to allow a refugee team to compete in the Olympics once again.”

He said, “it's important to leave no one behind, and not to leave behind those that were forced to flee, to leave their countries, and have the same rights to practice sports as any other citizen of the world.”

In a message prerecorded ahead of the Games, the Secretary-General said, “the world gathers in Paris to celebrate the power of sport. To bring hope. To transcend cultures. To unite people. To promote mutual respect and fair play. These are also the ideals of the United Nations. In the spirit of the Olympic Truce, I call on everyone to lay down their arms. Build bridges. Foster solidarity. And strive for the ultimate goal: peace for all. I wish every success to the Olympians and Paralympians. You inspire us to dream bigger. May the Olympic flame light the path to a world of peace and harmony.”

The XXXIII Olympiad, as the Games officially known, are taking place in Paris from 24 July to 11 August.