ON the occasion of his arrival to promote the "Swim across the Continents with the United Nations for the UN Millennium Development Goals campaign”, a conference, held last week in the Egyptian capital, gave Marcos Diaz, the Dominican Ultra Distance Open Water swimmer, the opportunity to speak about his latest stint. Diaz is pursuing an unprecedented feat of becoming the first man to unite the five continents of the world by swimming to promote the achievements of the UN MDGs. The conference held on Thursday was attended by Egypt's National Sports Council Executive Director Medhat el- Beltagy, Ambassador to the Dominican Republic to Egypt Maria Gabriella Bonetti and the United Nations Resident Representative James W. Rawley. "I feel committed to contributing to the development of countries and promoting initiatives that help turn the world into a better place for all," Marcos Diaz told an enthusiastic gathering. "That is why I have asked the UN and the world to join me," he added. Diaz will make four crossings, swimming alone, once every month from May to August, uniting the five continents. He swam the first cross from Oceania - Asia (Papa New Guinea ��" Indonesia) two weeks ago. The second crossing will be in June from Asia to Africa (Caral Bay, Jordon - Taba, Egypt); the third crossing will be launched in July from Africa to Europe (Point Cires, Morocco - Tarifa, Spain) and the fourth and the last one will be from Europe to America (Big Diomede, Russia - Chulotka, Alaska). The idea of this initiative was concieved by Marcos Diaz's foundation, a charity institution, and the UN sponsored it. "The objective of this meeting is the development of bilateral relations," the United Nations Resident Representative James W. Rawley said. "We are all here to support Marcos Diaz and I hope the project will achieve its objectives," he added. The eight UN MDGs are eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combatting HIV-ADS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing global partnership for development. "My aim is to demonstrate that people around the world are not so far from each other and the problems affecting some could impact the lives of other living in other continents," Diaz said. "Together we can contribute in the creation of positive change for humanity through the achievement of the eight goals,” he added. To join in Marcos' campaign, browse: www.iswimwithmarcos.com.
