Mr. President,
We thank the delegations of Brazil and Ghana on behalf of the African Group for introducing draft resolution L.22.
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to sport free of racism, racial discrimination, discrimination based on religion or belief, xenophobia and related intolerance.
We support and will continue to contribute to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, because of its central importance in international efforts to combat racism and racial discrimination.
We agree with what is expressed in the draft resolution on the potential of sport to promote values such as respect, dignity, diversity, tolerance, justice and social inclusion.
Cuba rejects the political manipulation of sport, the transgression of the values of Olympism, and the theft of sporting talent.
We welcome the proposal that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights support, within the framework of its mandate, national efforts to strengthen the capacities of States and other actors, including sport professionals, in preventing and confronting racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other related forms of intolerance in sport.
For the above-mentioned reasons, Cuba supports draft resolution L.22 and calls for its adoption by consensus.
Thank you very much.