IOC lauds his extensive work in sport for development
Abdul Khaleque Khandker: A news broke loose that Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Bangladesh is going to receive the most prestigious Olympic Laurel. This mega event is going to be held at Tokyo, Japan. This is the second time the trophy will be awarded to any such distinguished personality, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said.
The IOC said in a statement on Thursday that this pioneering leader, in the arena of micro-economics is a path finder, who has successfully shown the path to the millions of low-income groups across the world as to how to throw away abject poverty through his innovative discovery in the field of micro economy.
The report said, it is Yunus whose pioneering micro-economic formulae have been hailed for cutting poverty across the globe and following which many people have warded off poverty and hardship of life.
This legendary economist will be honoured also for “his extensive work in sport for development”, the IOC further said in a statement on Thursday.
The 81-year-old economist-turned-globe-trotting celebrity speaker won the Nobel in 2006. He will be given the award at the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony on July 23.
In the meantime, people from all walks of life have expressed the euphoria of joy and happiness on hearing this news. They said, it is an outstanding glory and dignity not only for Muhammad Yunus alone but it is dignity for Bangladesh.
According to them, Bangladesh could not have become famous in participating the Olympic games, but today the name of Bangladesh is being pronounced by the world in the event of Olympic repeatedly, and this is because of Muhammad Yunus success and achievement. Now we can stand in the world with our heads high.
The Olympic Laurel was created five years ago to recognise endeavours in culture, education, peace and development through sport, according to the IOC.
It was given for the first time at the 2016 Rio Games to Kenyan former Olympian Kip Keino, who opened a children’s home, a school and an athletes’ training centre in his home country.
Yunus founded the Grameen Bank in the 1980s and shared the Nobel Prize with the micro-lender. His initiatives include the Yunus Sports Hub, a network of social enterprises that promote development through sports.