Richard Attias Quotes

“Sport is a great equalizer that can build bridges, transcend borders and cultures, and render even the fiercest conflicts temporarily irrelevant.”

— Richard Attias

Not only do African students deserve excellent universities, they deserve good elementary and secondary schools, too - and then, to have access to ongoing vocational and job training to ensure their skills remain as relevant as possible to African organizations.

— Richard Attias

“Sporting achievements bestow a sense of unification on the cultures and societies in which they take place and create an outpouring of nationalism and pride.”

— Richard Attias

“Sport allows us to engage in dialogue and to build bridges, and it may even have the capacity to reshape international relations. The Olympic Games embody perfectly this universal mission.”

— Richard Attias

Africa's informal economy is one of the most innovative and inventive environments in the world. Yet it is an environment with little regulation in which workers are often exposed to hard conditions and live without a safety net.

— Richard Attias

“If women are the key to Africa's future - and I believe they are - we must figure out how to take away the barriers to their participation.”

— Richard Attias

“Sport is and should remain a great school of life that supports young people in their personal development. It teaches respect for others and also for oneself.”

— Richard Attias

“Sport is one of the few spaces where people can learn about different cultures in a spirit of trust and friendship.”

— Richard Attias

“Obesity is a problem that nearly every nation in the world is facing, but there is much that we can do to fix it.”

— Richard Attias

“For African societies, no issue looms larger than employment. Only vibrant entrepreneurship and thriving small businesses can hope to provide the millions of jobs that are needed.”

— Richard Attias

Global sports tournaments have a range of benefits that go far beyond the games themselves. They can transform the image of a country or a region. They bring people together and reveal new possibilities to a nation's youth.

— Richard Attias

“Sporting events like the Olympics have developed and maintained a clear message of promoting gender equality as an essential criterion in the success of any international event.”

— Richard Attias

The cost of infrastructure development to host a mega-event can be offset against economic growth over future decades.

— Richard Attias

Inspiration, in its rich variety, must be present in any discussion about Africa. We need role models - they are essential to the advancement of our society.

— Richard Attias

“In the organization of any major sporting event or the planning of a building, long-term thinking is key.”

— Richard Attias

Africa's agricultural sector has enormous scope for development, which would benefit both the continent's economy and its people.

— Richard Attias

Culturally, it is commonplace for African women to work.

— Richard Attias

“As African economies boom and businesses are created, one of the big questions this growth raises is that of third-level education: how can Africa develop a knowledge infrastructure to rival that of the west, a sort of Harvard University in Africa?”

— Richard Attias

“Even an unsuccessful Olympic bid can be the source of change within a city if organizers adhere to their vision.”

— Richard Attias

“It is my firm belief that action on the issues that matter for Africa must emerge from within Africa itself.”

— Richard Attias

When kids are young, before the age of ten, there is a critical window of opportunity when their habits and motivations can be influenced.

— Richard Attias

“The factors that have been holding farmers back are similar to those that threaten other types of growth in Africa. Infrastructure and transport are in many cases quite poor, resulting in the losses of huge amounts of produce.”

— Richard Attias

“The symbolic significance of individual athletes' achievements has sometimes proved more productive than the negotiations of diplomats or politicians.”

— Richard Attias

“Improving Africa's farming sector would have multiple positive outcomes for African people.”

— Richard Attias

“Bringing more large sporting events to Africa would help the continent develop sports policies and at the same time optimize its peoples' chances of achieving competitive success.”

— Richard Attias

“Female success stories from sporting events like the Olympic Games have played a role in shifting the Indian perception to see the female athlete as a hero and a role model for young Indian girls.”

— Richard Attias

“What the Olympics and other mega-events have shown is that the significant investment required to host an international games successfully has the power to transform a region, and even a nation.”

— Richard Attias