Former two-time heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and current IBF and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will be named UNESCO Champions by Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the organization, on Monday, Dec. 4. Many celebrities, politicians and athletes are expected to attend the event.

The designation of the Klitschko brothers is a tribute to their exceptional success in boxing, their long-term commitment on behalf of the less-privileged, their exemplary efforts to promote and support UNESCO’s “Education For Children In Need’’ program and their valuable contribution to furthering the organization’s ideals and objectives.

In August 2006, the Klitschko brothers traveled to Namibia to promote educational activities for the children of the San community, who are among the most isolated and underprivileged in the north and west of the country. In 2004 and 2005, the brothers lent support to a UNESCO project in Romania. In 2002, they helped a project in Brazil. In addition, they have created several foundations in Ukraine that benefit children and sport.

Before successfully defending his heavyweight titles against previously unbeaten Calvin Brock Nov. 11, 2006, Wladimir announced he would donate part of the revenue of ticket sales from that fight to UNESCO’s “Education For Children in Need.’’ During the Dec. 4 ceremony, he will present a check for $285,000 to the Director-General.

Other UNESCO Champions for Sport include Ukrainian pole-vaulter Sergei Bubka, Russian hockey player Viatcheslav Fetisov and German Formula One racer Michael Schumacher. Brazilian soccer player, Pele, has been UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1994. These athletes spread UNESCO’s message the world over. In this way, they focus media attention on UNESCO’s goal to promote the values of physical education and sport to build a better future for young people

Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Arena Boxing: Juan Carlos Gomez Warns Haye Off From Klitschko

  At the boring world heavyweight championship bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Hasim Rahman this past Saturday, the only man who brought some excitement to the show was former undisputed world >
  
  

• Klitschko Surgery Successful.

  Vitali Klitschko underwent successful back surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion should be able to fight again in September, according to Bernd Boente, >
  
  

• Wladimir Klitschko is Back!.

  Wladimir Klitschko made a commanding statement in his latest return to the ring by stopping opponent Elicier Castillo in four rounds tonight in Germany. The Ukrainian giant and brother of >
  
  

• Klitschko’s Free of Universum.

  The Regional Court (Landgericht) of Hamburg ruled in a decision announced today that Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko are no longer under contract with Universum Box Promotion. Universum Box Promotion had >
  
  

• Boxing Weigh-In: Vitali Klitschko vs. Juan Carlos Gomez

  

  Vitali Klitschko weighed in at 249 pounds yesterday in preparation for putting his WBC belt on the line against contender Juan Carlos Gomez, who tipped the scales at 230.4 pounds, >
  
  

• WBC International Champ Juan Carlos Gomez Calls Out Vitali Klitschko

  

  © ARENA Box-Promomtion When Vitali Klitschko beat Samuel Peter for the WBC world heavyweight champion title in Berlin on Saturday, Juan Carlos Gomez was sitting in his house in L.A. watching >
  
  

• Vitali Klitschko to make comeback fight against Maskaev in April

  Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will return to the ring in April, more than two years after injuries forced his retirement. Vasyl Samokhvalov, who described himself as an "information >
  
  

• Arena Boxing: Juan Carlos Gomez Kicked Out Of Wladimir Klitschko’s Public Workout

  “The Black Panther” returned to Hamburg yesterday and is already kicking up a fuss again. At yesterday's so called “public” workout for Wladimir Klitschko’s title defence against Tony Thompson on >
  
  

• Hayemaker Boxing: Team Haye Losing Grip On Klitschko Fight?

  Former world cruiserweight champion David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye has offered to box in Germany on a K2 Promotions show in order to revive negotiations for a summer showdown with WBO >
  
  

• Boxing Preview Analysis: Samuel Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko

  After nearly four years out of the ring, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko challenges "The Nigerian Nightmare", Samuel Peter, for his old WBC Heavyweight Championship at the 02 World Arena in Berlin >
  
  

---