Manny Pacquiao at UN General Assembly: 'More sports, fewer wars'

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK — Boxing Hall of Famer and former Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao delivered a message at the United Nations General Assembly for the opening of the United Nations Games, where he pushed for peace through sports.

“I believe that if more people played sports, there would be fewer wars and less hate in the world," said the only eight-division champion in boxing history in a video message.

"Sports help us see one another not as enemies, but as teammates, challengers, and friends,” he added.

Pacquiao is one of the special guests at the ceremony where the Philippines is part of the organizing committee.

“Sports provide not just pathways to greater heights and sporting excellence; more importantly, they serve as a unifying force where people from different backgrounds can come together, promote cooperation, solidarity, tolerance, and understanding, creating connections and breaking down barriers, thereby contributing to peace and development.”

Mandated by a UN General Assembly resolution, the UN Games aim to foster unity, trust, and physical well-being among personnel of Permanent Missions and UN agencies in New York. —VAL, GMA Integrated News