Bach lobbies for sport to be ‘part’ of UN plan

SUVA, Fiji, May 2, (Agencies): International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has urged national and regional Olympic bodies to lobby their governments to back his plan to have sport included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing the Oceania National Olympic Committee meeting on Saturday, Bach said “I would like to ask each and every one of you if you can turn to your governments and ask your governments to support this move.”

The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of targets being framed by the UN to guide decision-making and publicsector funding after the Millennium Development Goals window closes this year.

Sport is not currently on the list of 17 targets, which cover political, social, cultural, environmental and economic matters.

Rio Olympics organisers said they are extending the current round of ticket sales beyond Friday’s original deadline to next Thursday as Brazil residents flock to make purchases.

The current phase covers 70 percent of the 5.2 million tickets, with just over half available for 70 reais ($30) or less. A second phase will follow in July.

In October, those residing in Brazil will then be able to purchase remaining tickets in a first-come, first-served process.

Foreign fans must apply through a separate process to buy around a million tickets to South America’s first ever Olympics.

On-site box office sales for remaining tickets will start in June of next year.

Organizers also confirmed that Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena will host football matches as one of seven venues in six cities, ending weeks of wrangling over who must foot the bill for adapting the stadium.

FIFA in March had earmarked the stadium, which was built ahead of last year’s World Cup, as a venue.