DESIGNATION CEREMONY OF THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS AS FAO GLOBAL GOODWILL AMBASSADORS Remarks

Ladies and Gentlemen

Dear Young Friends,

Hello!

I am Dr QU Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - FAO - based in beautiful Rome.

For 80 years, FAO has been leading international efforts to combat hunger, improve nutrition, and promote agrifood systems and rural development around the world.

For 80 years FAO has been working to achieve global food security – that means making sure everyone, everywhere have enough, affordable, diverse, nutritious foods for healthy lives.

Our work is guided by our overarch of the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life – leaving one behind.

Over a year ago, the Harlem Globetrotters began supporting FAO’s mission.

They met with school children here in Italy and in other parts of the world, to speak about the importance of healthy diets and reducing food waste.

They also spoke about the Four Betters at The Summit of the Future at UN headquarters in New York in September 2024.

And on World Food Day on 16 October – which is FAO’s birthday – they came back to Rome to take part in many activities, including visiting a school to speak about the right to foods as a basic human right.

For almost 100 years, the Harlem Globetrotters have been sharing joy and teaching others around the world about unity, equality and solidarity.

80 years ago when FAO was officially established, the Harlem Globetrotters started  the global movement for happiness, health, peace and prosperity.

That is why today, in the year of FAO’s 80th anniversary, I am proud to designate the Harlem Globetrotters as Global FAO Goodwill Ambassadors.

And I thank them for everything they have done so far, and for what we will do more of  together in the future.

Basketball is not only a popular sport, but even more it is a joy for healthy life!

Foods are not only resources of nutrition, but also the dignity of human right.

Let us enjoy basketball with healthy foods for better life!

Thank you.