New York, Oct 20 – South Africa Monday asked the UN General Assembly to endorse a call for peace, solidarity and socio-economic development in support of the World Cup football it will host in mid-2010.

With South Africa organizing it, the World Cup will be held for the first time on the African continent.

A resolution introduced by Pretoria said football, given its universal popularity, ‘can bring people together and play a positive role in promoting development and peace.’

The resolution follows another submitted by Canada calling for peace during the upcoming Vancouver Olympics. Truce resolutions had been introduced to the UN assembly at each Olympic Games since the early 1990s to revive the Greek tradition of calling for an end of conflict in order allow athletes safe passage and participation in the games.

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