GENEVA (ILO News) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have formally agreed to join efforts "in promoting social justice and human dignity" and in encouraging activities "which contribute to the elimination of poverty and child labour" around the world.

A "Cooperation Agreement" between the two organizations was signed today in Lausanne by the President of the IOC, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch and the Director-General of the International Labour Office, Mr. Michel Hansenne.

Under the terms of the Agreement, a joint IOC/ILO working group will shortly be established to develop a programme of mutual cooperation in both developed and developing countries.

Mr. Samaranch stated on this occasion that: "As a social force in the modern era, the Olympic Movement is deeply concerned by the issues related to youth, in particular with regard to their ability to pursue an education and to live in conditions of dignity. The IOC's relations with the International Labour Organization date back to the turn of the century and the social policy initiatives envisaged by Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the IOC, and Albert Thomas, first Director-General of the ILO. It is therefore with pleasure that we look forward to continued joint initiatives to promote, through sport, the development and welfare of disadvantaged children in the world".

Mr. Hansenne said: "We share with the IOC and with the Olympic Movement ideals of peace and solidarity together with the belief that all persons everywhere have a right to pursue their own potential for growth and fulfilment. As we all know however, hundreds of millions of our contemporaries, most of them young men and women, are engaged in a daily struggle simply to survive. It is incumbent on organizations such as ours to forge new alliances and to develop new strategies against the poverty and exploitation which rob so many of their youth and of their future."

The text of the Cooperation Agreement is reproduced below:

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) share a common belief in the right of all human beings to pursue their spiritual and material development in conditions of freedom, dignity, and equal opportunity. Both entities work for the creation of a peaceful world founded on social justice, tolerance and understanding between individuals and cultures.

The IOC and the ILO place the utmost importance on international solidarity, and make their special contribution to human development and the pursuit of excellence in accordance with their respective mandates and principles.

Sharing these common goals, the IOC and ILO have therefore decided to cooperate in promoting social justice and human dignity worldwide through their respective fields of activity.

The IOC and the ILO undertake to encourage activities in pursuit of this objective, particularly those which contribute to the elimination of poverty and child labour and the development of individual potential of creative talents and productive skills.

To this end, the Parties have agreed that a joint IOC/ILO working group will be established to develop a programme of mutual cooperation.

This agreement will become effective upon signature by both parties and shall remain in force till such time as one party informs the other in writing that it wishes to terminate the agreement.

Done at Lausanne this 19th day of January 1998, in two originals in the English and French language.