New York, 27 April 2014 - MONUSCO teamed up with UNON, the United Nations Office in Nairobi, to win first place in golf after beating 12 other teams at the 41st United Nations Inter-Agency Games (IAG) in New York. MONUSCO also showed its prowess by finishing 2nd in volleyball and 3rd in swimming.

This year's games were organized by the UN Headquarters staff and hosted by the city of New York for the first time. The event took place between 23 and 27 April 2014. The launching ceremony was held on the campus of Hofstra University in Long Island. "This event brings together the wonderfully diverse UN staff -- men and women of all ages and positions, from numerous countries and cultures, of differing politics and sexual orientation, with responsibilities ranging from peacekeeping to administrative support. They bring to these Games the same traits -- teamwork and mutual respect -- that they show every day around the world, in carrying their work as international civil servants," the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, wrote in his welcome address.

A total of 40 UN agencies and offices took part in the Games. They all competed either singly or jointly around 13 sport disciplines, including Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Cricket, Darts, Football (soccer), Golf, Petanque, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, and Volleyball. "We gather together, not just to participate in our favorite sports, but to show that every day UN staff all over the world face the most difficult challenges, often under grave and dangerous conditions, yet resolve those problems through teamwork and dedication," the IAG Coordination Committee wrote in their welcoming note.

The participants were split among four hotels conveniently located 20 minutes or less from the venues where the competitions took place. The windy, chilly and at times rainy conditions, characteristic of the spring season, made the contest all the more challenging, especially when it came to outdoor games. But the resolve of the players helped them overcome these adverse conditions in the games. In this respect, MONUSCO and UNON did well by defeating the dozen golf teams to finish first. But the group that took home the most medals and trophies was, without contest, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The mere mention of their name during the prize giving ceremony raised a loud roar in the big hall of the Crest Hollow Country Club where this event came to a close.

The next Inter-Agency Games are scheduled to take place in Rome.

MONUSCO/Penangnini Toure