2025 UN Games Commences, Philippines Part of Organizing Committee

Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative Leila C. Lora-Santos emphasizes Philippines’ commitment to, and priority policy and programs on, sports for development and peace.

NEW YORK 08 April 2025 — The Philippines recognized the transformative power of sports to drive social progress and foster peace and development at the commencement of the 2nd United Nations Games at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 02 April 2025.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative Leila C. Lora-Santos highlighted the Philippines’ recognition of sports as a powerful tool for fostering human development, nation-building, and promoting the well-being of its citizens.

“Our national policy and program on “Sports for All” endeavors to make physical fitness and sports accessible to all Filipinos, and thus includes Women in Sports, Para Sports, and Indigenous Peoples Sports,” DPR Lora-Santos said.

“We trust that as we participate in these UN Games, we remain seized of the wisdom of the founders of our United Nations. This means transcending our differences, closing the gap in our inequalities, and committing to maintaining international peace and security,” she added.

In August 2023, the Philippines, with main co-sponsors Indonesia, Nicaragua, and Peru, spearheaded the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution declaring 21 December as World Basketball Day, making basketball the first team sport to have its own international day recognized by the General Assembly.

Since then, the Philippines has organized the annual UN Diplomats’ Basketball Games to mark the occasion, recognizing basketball’s unique power to unite people from various countries.

For this year’s UN Games, the Philippines will facilitate the basketball tournament along with El Salvador, Latvia and Tajikistan.

Meanwhile, Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao graced the opening of the UN Games, delivering an inspiring message as one of the special guests.

In a pre-recorded video message, Pacquiao urged the UN to continue using sports as an instrument and a unifying force to foster cooperation, solidarity, tolerance, and ultimately contributing to peace and development. This marks Pacquiao’s first-ever virtual appearance at the UN.

“If more people played sports, there would be fewer wars and less hatred in the world,” Pacquiao stressed. “Sports teach us to see each other not as enemies, but as teammates, challengers, and friends.”

Mandated by a UN General Assembly resolution, the UN Games aim to promote unity, trust, and well-being among diplomats and UN staff members in New York and leverage sports as a powerful tool to promote peace and cooperation. This year’s UN Games will run from April to May 2025. END

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, in his video message, urges the UN to continue using sports as an instrument for peace.

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.