Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-11-30-Speech-3-112"
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"en.20051130.12.3-112"2
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".
Mr President, I am an unashamed sports fan. I believe that sport has the power to transform lives. It can give people life chances that they may never have imagined they could have in their lives. It can improve people’s lifestyles, their health and wellbeing; it can lift up the spirits and it can be just great fun. For somebody who played rugby for the best part of 30 years, I know just how much fun playing sport actively can be. I just want to make it very clear that the Presidency very much supports the Olympic truce initiative. We believe it is a very important and significant initiative. All the UN countries agreed a resolution on the Olympic truce at their general assembly on 3 November, so this truce is supported by all EU Member States.
We agree, of course, with Mr Takkula that our long-term aim should be for permanent peace, rather than just during the Olympic Games. However, to see peace during the period of the Turin Games will be a step forward. If that can continue to Beijing in the Summer Olympics in 2008 and to London in 2012, nobody would be more delighted than myself, the Council and I am sure everybody listening to this debate here today.
I would like to agree with Mr van den Berg that is very important to tackle racism in football. In fact, this was one of the issues that sports ministers discussed when they looked at how to promote diversity and equal opportunities at a meeting in Liverpool in the UK in September. As part of that discussion, ministers heard from UEFA about the work that it is doing to tackle racism in football.
The motions for resolutions on this subject that will be put to the vote here tomorrow are very important. On behalf of the Council, I can say that we certainly welcome the questions; we encourage the Olympic truce initiative and support the motions for resolutions before you."@en1
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