SG/SM/9440
     9 August 2004

Secretary-General’s Message for ‘Celebrate Humanity’ Campaign by International Olympic Committee

NEW YORK, 6 August (UN Headquarters) -- Following is the text of a video message by Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the “Celebrate Humanity” Campaign by the International Olympic Committee:

The greatest moment of a swimming race is not when one swimmer begins to pull ahead of the pack, or when one touches the wall in victory.

The greatest moment takes place before the starting pistol fires -- the moment when no nation is greater or smaller, or stronger or weaker, than any other.

For me, that is the Olympic Moment.

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