The Independent (Banjul)
6 February 2004
Banjul — UNDP's campaign slogan January 26 marked a significant event of not only the opening of Africans Cup of Nations football tournament, but also the handing over of the banner of poverty eradication in Africa by UNDP to Tunisian President, Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, at the opening of the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunis, Tunisia, with a campaign supported by participating national teams and governments to raise public awareness on the need to accelerate the fight against poverty and the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Throughout the three-week tournament, which began on 23 January, billboards of "Africa 2015", a communications initiative sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), are being displayed in the five stadiums of the cities hosting the games. UNDP video spots on poverty and AIDS are also being shown on the giant screens in towns where people assemble to watch the games.
On Saturday, UNDP Associate Administrator Zéphirin Diabré handed over to President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia a replica of the "With Africa Against Poverty" banner on Saturday as 60,000 spectators packed Rades stadium to witness the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The banner bearing an appeal from UNDP and the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), was displayed in the stadium by 10 of the 200 ball boys wearing "Africa 2015" track suits with the UNDP logo and slogans on the fight against AIDS and poverty. The Millennium Development Goals will be highlighted in Arabic, English and French during the tournament.
"The banner hand-over illustrates the renewed commitment of African football to join a growing movement to overcome poverty. It shows the determination of the world of football to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals," said Zéphirin Diabré, adding "this is a key component of the Africa 2015 drive launched by UNDP, focusing initially on HIV/AIDS as an entry point towards achieving the other goals." All 16 teams as well as government and soccer officials attending the preceding African Nations Cup in 2002 in Mali had signed the banner.
President Ben Ali commended UNDP for this innovative initiative and expressed his full support for its success.
President Toumani Touré of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konaré, Chairman of the African Union Commission, Issa Hayatou, President of CAF, Joseph Blatter, President of FIFA and other high-ranking African, Arab and Tunisian officials of the world of sports were amongst the VIPs watching as the ceremony took place at the stadium on the outskirt of the city of Tunis.
UNDP messages on AIDS and poverty were flagged several times whereas the Africa 2015 emblem flashed on the stadium's giant screens in the three languages and was followed by a video presentation on AIDS and poverty.
CAF's official publication featuring a full-page advertisement on Africa 2015 was distributed extensively to tens of thousands of spectators.
Africa 2015 boards and posters featuring UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zidane are displayed in strategic locations from Tunis international airport to various venues where CAF and FIFA hold official meetings and many other places where hundreds of journalists gather to cover the games. Large "Africa 2015" banners have been deployed downtown and at specific crossroads, bearing slogans on AIDS and poverty.
"African football will use its extraordinary ability to communicate in the service of the Millennium Development Goals, which are vital for Africa, " said Issa Hayatou during the official CAF/FIFA press conference held on the eve of the Cup's kick off. "The CAF totally adheres to Africa 2015 and we will use this competition to raise awareness on poverty and AIDS." For his part, FIFA's President, Joseph Blatter, praised UNDP for its work in poverty alleviation in the developing world citing the football match held last December in Basel, Switzerland, between the friends of Ronaldo and the friends of Zidane as a concrete example of international solidarity.
At this press conference, UNDP's Director of Communications Djibril Diallo and Syndiely Wade, UNDP Honorary Adviser for sports and development, presented the Africa 2015 initiative to more than 200 journalists from local and international news media. Later, during an interview with the BBC, the Associate Administrator emphasized that sports was an important means to convey UNDP messages. "The alliance UNDP has made with the Africa Cup of Nations to promote the Millennium Development Goals represents a way forward to mobilize participation and social action. It is everyone's responsibility to achieve the goals," he said, adding, "these goals are achievable and affordable and we must all be fully supportive."
UNDP has established cooperation agreements with major international broadcasters like Radio France Internationale (RFI), the BBC and Canal Horizon to convey messages on the fight against poverty and AIDS to millions of listeners and viewers during this three-week tournament.
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