UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday underscored the importance of sports in realizing the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), the ambitious UN program to fight against poverty and strengthen the disease control in the world at large.

"We hear much talk about the need for stronger partnerships in making the Goals a reality," Ban said at a round-table discussion on the value of sports as a development tool held in connection with the opening day of the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"Sport exemplifies that very spirit: teamwork, fair play, people collaborating for a common goal," he said, referring to the UN's current partnership with the Olympic movement.

"We use sport in many of our programmes," he said. "Some of the world's greatest athletes are helping us to raise awareness on important issues, such as hunger, HIV-AIDS, gender equality, education and environmental care

The International Olympic Committee has observer status in the UN General Assembly, Ban pointed out and urged "the entire sporting community, including the private sector, to build on these expanding contacts with the United Nations."

On his visit to the opening of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, the UN chief said, "I was impressed by the many initiatives undertaken there in support of the MDGs."

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