A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between COG President Gerardo Aguirre and Rosa Malango, head of the Guatemalan office of the UN Resident Coordinator.

The partnership will help achieve common goals through development projects, outreach, opportunities for exchange, and both national and local-level initiatives, it is hoped. 

Ensuring all members of the community have access to sport is one priority, particularly in the most disadvantaged and marginalised areas, as is improving the quality of physical education in the school environment.

The two bodies also hope to combine to train and educate young people, as well as empowering girls and women and helping construct "peace and dialogue in the community".

Promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability are among other broader goals.

This comes as the Olympic Movement - led by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach - has prioritised working with the United Nations to bring about development through sport in recent years. 

The COG and the Guatemalan Olympic Academy believe that empowering sport and physical activity is a "profitable and meaningful tool" that can address a wide range of needs related to education, health, social inclusion, development youth, gender equality, peace building and sustainable development.

They will also hope to inspire new athletes to follow the success of leading stars such as Erick Barrondo, who clinched the nation's first ever Olympic medal with silver in the men's 20 kilometres walk at London 2012.