Student Speaks at U.N.-Affiliated Event

Leo Liu ’26 was invited to speak at a recent United Nations–affiliated event hosted by the United Nations Association of Connecticut. Liu’s  ’26 speech, entitled “Youth & Sports: Building a Better UN Future” centered around the role of sports in global youth engagement to inspire a new generation of global citizens. He delivered a compelling message: the future of the United Nations depends not only on diplomats and formal institutions, but on young people empowered at the grassroots level, especially through sport.

“99% of activism does not happen at the United Nations,” Liu said. “It happens at the grassroots level. To create change, especially as a young person like myself, you don’t need a formal title. You don’t need a grand platform. Change can happen within your community, schools, sports clubs, or even the local YMCA.”

Speaking as a youth leader deeply engaged in both athletics and international advocacy, Liu emphasized that sports are far more than games. They are one of the world’s most powerful tools for inclusion, conflict reduction, and global engagement. Drawing on his participation with non-profit Athletes United for Peace (AUP) and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), Leo illustrated how youth sports can serve as a testing ground for peacebuilding and social change.

Liu highlighted that sport transcends language, nationality, and culture. Unlike traditional political dialogue, sports create an immediate shared framework, common rules, mutual respect, and fair competition. This universality makes sports uniquely effective for diplomacy and youth engagement. 

“The most powerful thing about sport,” he said, “is that it’s not a language. You don’t really need to communicate with the other team to achieve diplomacy.”

From local basketball tournaments in the northeastern United States to international competitions like the Olympics, Liu explained that sports often provide the only opportunity for young people from vastly different backgrounds to see friendly competition between disparate people. In his experience organizing large youth basketball tournaments involving dozens of teams, he has seen both the promise and the challenges firsthand, especially when social, racial, or geographic differences create tension. These moments, he argued, are exactly where sports can be transformed into platforms for understanding and empathy.

Leo called on adults and institutions to trust young people, to give them responsibility, access, and mentorship rather than limiting their influence. By empowering youth through sports, he believes societies can cultivate a new generation of global citizens who understand cooperation, fairness, and shared responsibility long before they enter politics or diplomacy.

Looking ahead, Leo hopes to study sociology and eventually pursue a career in public service. His long-term goal is clear: to help shape policies that reflect how people actually live, play, and interact with one another. “I hope to pursue a degree in sociology.. I want to understand how societies interact with one another and how people interact with one another. And most importantly, how policies shape the lives of ordinary people.