25 January 1999

Bonn, Germany: The United Nations Volunteers programme is to receive prominent support: German tennis star Michael Stich and his wife, actress Jessica Stockmann, are to become the first Honorary UN Volunteers to launch the International Year of Volunteers 2001. During a ceremony at UNV headquarters in Bonn on Monday, 25 January, the couple will sign contracts to take up their assignments.

Michael Stich's tennis career included the single titles in Wimbledon and the ATP Tour World Championship; he led his team to the Davis Cup title and won the doubles Gold Medal in Barcelona together with Boris Becker. With doubles partner John McEnroe he won the finals in Wimbledon.

In 1994, Michael Stich and his wife Jessica Stockmann established the Michael Stich Foundation for HIV/AIDS affected children and have since been actively involved in rendering assistance to those children and their families. As such, Mr. Stich and Ms. Stockmann are prominent representatives of the millions of people worldwide who volunteer their time and talent for the service of others.

Joint activities in the months to come are designed to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS, an area in which United Nations Volunteers are currently working in ten countries in Africa and Asia. In the wider context of the preparations for the International Year of Volunteers 2001, for which the United Nations Volunteers programme has been designated focal point by the UN General Assembly, the aim is also to draw public attention to the significant contribution that volunteers make to their societies.