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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Angelina Jolie, Rudd Lubbers

Aired February 09, 2002 - 17:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Not all of the Olympic events are athletic competition. There's also at least one important gathering taking place in Salt Lake, bringing together a who's who of dignitaries finding common ground. This special group believes sports can literally save children, and they want every kid in the world to have a chance to play.

Earlier, I talked with two of the program's participants, actress Angelina Jolie, who just got back from a tour of refugee camps in Pakistan, and Rudd Lubbers, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, this would seem like an unlikely venue in which to have such discussions, so Angelina, why don't you give me a sense as to what you've experienced over the past year when you have visited some of the refugee camps in Pakistan and also in Sierra Leone.

ANGELINA JOLIE, UNHCR GOODWILL AMBASSADOR: I started traveling to UNHCR camps about a year ago, just to -- just to learn more about the world and what was happening in the world. I didn't know before I started reading into it that there -- I mean, I couldn't understand how it was possible that there were over 20 million people in the world that were refugees, most of which women and children. And I wanted to understand what that was and what that meant.

And when I went to these places, didn't know what to expect, and met just hundreds of thousands of families just like all of our families. And people that have gone through so much horror, and through it have such amazing spirit and continue to -- and were so -- just have taught me many, many things about life. And I have changed, and I am forever grateful to them for it. But -- that's all I will say.

WHITFIELD: Well, Angelina, when I visited a refugee camp in Macedonia, what struck me was the fact that these people were so resilient in the face of despair. Children were still playing or finding things to kick around, try to play soccer with. What did you notice among the children and their spirit and how they tried really hard not to be broken, when they were encountering experiences that would very much break most people's spirit?

JOLIE: I did see -- I saw -- I think kids that are -- they are kids. Kids are the same all over the world. And moms worry about the kids and dads worry about their families, the same all over the world, so these kids were so beautiful and so full of hope. And some of them so young that it seemed they didn't understand the situation they were in and how much they were living without. And it breaks your heart to see it, because they are so happy and smiling with the smallest gesture.

And yet, I also saw a lot of kids that these sports programs, which we are here to talk about, the Olympics Aid, bringing sports programs into camps, as they have. They have started in nine -- in eight countries, I believe, and there are camps in 123 countries, so there is a lot to do. But they have started -- and they brought to these kids that many of them just sit idle with nothing to do but to remember all of the horror they have gone through, and who don't have a sense of self-worth and certainly need to feel important and strong and healthy.

They've brought sports, and they have gotten these kids laughing and feeling good about themselves and playing together. And it is -- it really does change your opinion about the importance of sports. It is really, really important to young people, and it can do so much good.

WHITFIELD: So Rudd Lubbers, let's bring you in of the UNHCR, the Olympics Aid -- it would seem like this would be a unlikely venue in which to have such discussions. But at the same time, oftentimes the Olympics are used as a spring board for new world policies. What are you hoping will come out of such a discussion today as you involve the likes of Angelina Jolie, as well as Desmond Tutu and even Kofi Annan?

RUDD LUBBERS, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: Olympics Aid started with Yalon Cross (ph), a famous skater. I was eight (ph) years ago watching at the Olympics Winter Games when he won gold medals. And this man mobilized his fellow sportsmen to do something with their name and fame beyond their own fame and name. Like Angelina Jolie is doing now for the refugees, he came to me to partner for sports in the refugees camps.

What I hope what will come out here, and that's exactly the reason that we are here together and that we are here in this strange place having this interview, is to explain how important it is for youngsters to overcome their experience in the past. This is very healing for them, and they can just play and they will give themselves confidence. And from there on, there is new life.

What will come out of here is very simple. We will get the financial resources that in all refugees camps in the world, youngsters can play practice sports. They will give us money and resources. We have these camps already. And we -- with very limited means, this is possible. So it's the reason we are here, and I'm pretty sure it will come out, and it is needed. Because it will be a shame to have here in Salt Lake City this splendid Olympics Games if we at the same time exclude young children, boys, girls in refugees camps who deserve to play sports as well.

WHITFIELD: And Angelina, this is an Olympic event, a non- athletic Olympics event but a meeting of the minds. In what kind of forum does this meeting take place today and who gets to be invited?

JOLIE: Well, the -- I believe you are referring to the panel we had this morning.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JOLIE: And it's -- I don't know how I ended up on the panel, but I was very happy to be there, just to hear everybody speaking. The amazing thing about it -- and fund-raising and all of that and having people come out and willing to help, but also just the coming together of all these different organizations -- all different parts of the U.N., different aid groups, different -- all of -- everybody coming together to sit on the panel.

Desmond Tutu, who I had never been privileged to be in a room with until today who says the most amazing things about how we are all one family in this world and we should all look after each other, and they're the children. And really just a gathering of people that have -- that are trying to make a difference together and work together, with common goals.

And that's very much I suppose the theme of the Olympics, is people, different people from around the world coming together, and sharing. And so, as much as we celebrate things, we should also do what we can to change things for the better.

WHITFIELD: OK. Angelina Jolie, as well as Rudd Lubbers, another common goal that brings people, thousands of people to Salt Lake City, the Olympics event -- I hope you guys get a chance to at least check out an athletic event while you are there for all business and no play.

JOLIE: That's right. We are going to try.

LUBBERS: Yes.

JOLIE: I think skating.

WHITFIELD: Any favorite -- oh, skating?

LUBBERS: And we are going to succeed.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

JOLIE: I think so. Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, thanks very much.

LUBBERS: I do -- thank you so much.

JOLIE: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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