Oct. 23, 2012: In this photo provided by the United Nations, Austrian skydiver, base jumper and daredevil Felix Baumgartner, left, and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pose for photographers at United Nations Headquarters. (AP)
UNITED NATIONS – Supersonic skydiver Felix Baumgartner wants to teach U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon how to skydive.
Baumgartner made the offer Tuesday during a photo opportunity where the U.N. chief spoke admiringly of Baumgartner's death-defying leap last week from a balloon 24 miles above the Earth, breaking the sound barrier and setting a world record.
When Ban said that he had never skydived, the Austrian offered up his services.
"Here's your chance, I'll teach you to skydive," Baumgartner said.
While Ban looked less-than-enthusiastic about the skydiving lesson, he did call Baumgartner "the most courageous person in the world."
Ban's spokesman, Martin Nesirky, told reporters that while the secretary-general usually deals with weighty issues involving conflicts and wars, he also thinks it is important to engage other parts of society.
Get a daily look at what’s developing in science and technology throughout the world.