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United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, giving an interview to a German newspaper, said he respects football for various reasons. He believes that the 2006 World Cup will in a sense unite all nations in a way that other events cannot.
"The fact is that the World Cup makes us green with envy," these were K. Annan's words that echoed in Saturday's newspapers. "It is probably the only game played in all countries, by people of different races and religions, football is one of the few organizations that is as unique as the United Nations."
K.Annan compared the main World football organization FIFA, uniting 205 members, to the United Nations (191 members): "Everyone in the world is talking about the World Cup."
The Secretary-General believes that for his homeland Ghana, which will have its first World Cup, and other African nations, this tournament will have special significance: "For a country like Angola, known for the famine ravaging the country, the World Cup will provide a sense of relief. And for nations like Ivory Coast, torn apart by conflicts, it will be a symbol of national unity and hope to start anew. I hope that countries will compete against each other for the respect of human rights, that they will strive to be superior in education and infant survival rates," K. Annan said.
The UN Secretary-General also encouraged people to discuss issues of further development no less than they believe in their national teams' performances in the biggest World football event and that nations should compete for "power" from June ninth to July ninth.
