NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York
OLYMPICS
The President of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid this morning took part alongside International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in the Olympic torch relay.
You can see for yourself and hear from the President directly. [Video played]
President Shahid ran about 100 meters. That is roughly the distance from one side of the General Assembly Hall to the other.
The President is the first person from the Maldives to participate in the torch relay for the winter Olympics.
To reiterate what he said today – “The Olympics represents humanity at its best. The best of the world coming together to compete graciously, to accept winning with humility and defeat with graciousness.”
The President will be a spectator to the Olympic Games tomorrow, and then he travels on to Singapore. I will update you about that visit on Monday.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked for the President’s opinion about the Opening Ceremony in the context of reported human rights abuses. The Spokesperson confirmed that the President attended the Opening Ceremony but did not comment further.
The Spokesperson was also asked if any Member State had discouraged the President from attending the Games. She said that no one had approached the President, to her knowledge, but that she would confirm.
