New York - From ongoing conflicts to humanitarian crises and everything in between those extremes – the range of items on the agenda of United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon tend to cover the entire panoply of challenges facing the
international community.
However, occasionally, there is scope for what could be described as
not-your-typical diplomatic encounters – as was the case on Tuesday, when the UN
chief met with South Korean pop star PSY and Austrian skydiver Felix
Baumgartner.
Through his song ‘Gangnam Style,’ PSY has become an international sensation,
with his satirical song’s video clip – and its horse-riding-like dance moves –
viewed more than half a billion times since its release in July.
“I'm a bit jealous,” the Secretary-General joked as he met with the singer.
“Until two days ago, someone told me I am the most famous Korean in the world.
Now I have to relinquish. I have no regrets.”
PSY added, “So now you have first- and second-famous Korean in the same
building!”
In their exchange, in addition to trying the song’s well-known dance moves, the
Secretary-General noted that the singer could be a force for global good. Mr.
Ban has previously indicated his belief in the power of music, particularly in
helping to overcome intolerance, given its ability to reach audiences in ways
that many other forms of culture or interaction cannot do.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Ban met with Mr. Baumgartner, who recently broke the
speed of sound – and a number of world records – as he jumped almost 40
kilometres from a capsule at the edge of space in the world’s highest-ever
freefall.
Reportedly, more than eight million people watched Mr. Baumgartner via live
streams on the Internet provider Google’s YouTube site, in addition to countless
others who watched it afterwards – including the Secretary-General.
In their encounter, Mr. Ban praised the 43-year-old skydiver’s courage as well
as the inspiration provided by the challenging jump to youth around the world,
while Mr. Baumgartner offered to give the UN chief skydiving lessons.
Addressing journalists earlier this week, Mr. Ban’s spokesperson, Martin
Nesirky, spoke about the importance of the Secretary-General meeting with people
from all walks of life, from all parts of the world.
“The Secretary-General has many interesting meetings and important meetings,”
Mr. Nesirky said. “It is important that the Secretary-General is able to reach
out to different parts of society, whether it is on a political track dealing
with extremely weighty matters, such as Syria or Mali and the Sahel, but it is
also important to be able to engage with other audiences too, for example, those
who have been enthused by the scientific aspects of Felix Baumgartner’s leap
from the edge of space.”
