The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have teamed up to fight the battle against Covid-19 and have signed an agreement to work together to promote health through sport and physical activity.
Key Points:
i.The virus particularly affects people with Diabetes, heart and lung disease so the idea is to create awareness about how sport and physical activity can be a major factor in promoting good health.
ii.The collaboration is to work with host countries to ensure Health of athletes, supporters and workers at the games. The two institutions will also work to ensure that the games leave a healthy legacy in host countries through enhanced awareness of the value of sport.
iii.The IOC calls on the governments of the world to include sport in their post-crisis support programmes because of the important role of sport in the prevention of NCDs (Non Communicable Diseases), but also of communicable diseases.
iv.The agreement that has been signed will focus on some of the key areas:
- Strengthen collaboration between Health ministry and sports ministry.
- Promote grassroots and community sports programmes.
- Strengthening the legacy of Olympics and Paralympics.
- Advocacy for physical activity.
v.Fact: Globally, WHO estimates that 1 in 4 adults is not active enough and more than 80% of the world’s adolescent population come under this category.
vi.This new partnership will bring together the sports & health sectors at international, regional and national levels to reach the global goal of increasing physical activity by 15%, as set out in the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity.
About WHO:
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland.
Director-General– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
About IOC:
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland.
President– Thomas Bach.
