Addis Ababa, Feb. 18(ENA)--Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports says the prevailing gap between opportunities and challenges in promoting international sports and development would be better addressed through global partnership.

In a keynote speech he made at the first International conference on sports and development in Magglingen, Switzerland, Ambassador Teshome Toga said governments, development agencies, civil society and the private sector should forge strong partnership to promote sports and development.

Ambassador Teshome said he was pleased to learn that the United Nations and its sister agencies were currently exploring how sports can be used as a tool to promote peace, education and environmental protection, among others.

"The politics of sport, as enshrined in the Olympic Truce has overcome the politics of power", the Minister said.

Ambassador Teshome said recognizing the importance of sports in societal development, peaceful cohesion and diversity within democratic unity, Ethiopia had endorsed a comprehensive sports policy in 1998.

The policy was aimed at enabling the youth to register achievements of global standards and enhancing the participation of the community with a view to realizing the fundamental rights of citizens, he said.

According to the Minister, the core features of the sports policy focused on guaranteeing the physical and mental well-being of the Ethiopian people and enhance the country's diplomacy thereby building its image and strengthening its international relations.

Encouraging the participation of children and youth was another vital area of Ethiopian sports, he said, adding that it was also an important vehicle for protecting the generation against HIV/AIDS.

Ambassador Teshome confirmed his country's commitment towards supporting the outcomes of the conference, which was held from 16-18 February, 2003 .

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