www.olympic.org - Site Officiel du Mouvement Olympique
HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND PROMOTION OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
"One third of the 40 million people leaving with HIV are young people under 25, many of whom are involved in sports, either as spectators or participants. It is vitally important for young people to have access to information about HIV so they can stay HIV-free and lead healthy and productive lives. The sports community is a key partner in reaching out to young men and women, whether in their village or town, or globally." Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director
The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a real and serious threat to human existence, development and security. The fact that it mainly targets and incapacitates the young people who form the backbone of the Olympic Movement programmes, raises concern for the IOC.
It is in this framework and based on the fundamental principle of Olympism which strives to place sport at the service of mankind that the IOC has developed a policy and related programmes of activities to contribute to this global fight. Its activities aim at promoting AIDS awareness and HIV prevention, as well as fighting related discrimination, for everyone and particularly among the sports community.
This programme is implemented in close cooperation with the Joint United Nations programme against HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, two organisations which are particularly active in policy development and community work.
ADVOCACY
An HIV/AIDS awareness card was distributed to the 11,000 athletes of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, calling for their help to fight the scourge.
Musa Njoko, a 31 year-old HIV-positive woman, participated in the Olympic Torch Relay in the Cape Town leg on 12 June 2004. Nine years ago, Musa was one of the first South African women to publicly disclose her HIV status at a time when the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS could have resulted in physical harm and even death. Undeterred by this reality, she has given a voice to women and girls, shattering the silence around issues such as rape, abuse and HIV.
The IOC also organises regional workshops on HIV/AIDS prevention through sport gathering representatives of National Olympic Committees and experts from UNAIDS, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and UNICEF to discuss how sport could help support national and international efforts to curb the spread of the AIDS epidemic, especially among young people.
"As an athlete, I played hard on the field, but I don't play with my life or the life of others. Protect yourself from HIV/AIDS." Frank Fredericks, Namibia, Track and Field Quadruple Olympic Silver Medallist.
NOC ACTIVITIES
Some NOCs are already working on HIV and AIDS prevention with their local National Health Councils and other NGOs specialised in this field. Others are now joining the fight and have developed new projects with their community.
- - The Brazilian NOC has undertaken HIV awareness-raising campaigns, advocacy work, distributed documentation, staged lectures by volunteer members of vulnerable populations to athletes and distributed free condoms, all of which is in keeping with the National AIDS Policy of the Brazilian government.
- - In the Caribbean, the Barbados NOC has included modules on HIV/AIDS in seminars organised for Young Sportswomen, in cooperation with the National Sports Commission, and has partnered with the Commonwealth Sports Development Programme to develop the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Project for Caribbean Youth, which addresses HIV and AIDS, and is currently developing a specific module on HIV and AIDS.
- - The German Olympic Committee and the Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) developed the "Go for Gold" HIV prevention campaign for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The campaign was again used for the Athens Games during which gold condoms were provided to athletes, street posters were displayed in Germany, and several prominent athletes provided their support.
- - The Kenyan NOC liaises with the National AIDS Control Council. Role models, including athletes Paul Tergat, Catherine Dereba and Margaret Okayo participated in HIV prevention activities. HIV prevention awareness is also part of the Olympic Day Run programme.
- - The Lesotho Red Cross is developing a sports manual in conjunction with the Lesotho NOC and plans to involve the NOC in coaching activities. Furthermore, since July 2003, the Olympic Youth Ambassador Programme of the Lesotho NOC, in cooperation with the Lesotho National Volunteer Commission, has trained young people to organise sports activities for other young people and to use these activities as a platform for peer education on relevant social issues.
- - The Myanmar NOC has established the Sport Medical Committee, which runs the Continuing Medical Education Programme for athletes and coaches, which includes "Education Talks" - a weekly discussion of issues including HIV prevention.
- - The Papua New Guinea NOC, through its Medical Commission in partnership with various government agencies, including the National Aids Council, as well as NGOs, has undertaken HIV advocacy and prevention both nationally and in Oceania. Activities include educational and awareness programmes in the framework of the Sport Science and Medicine Courses aimed at behavioural change.
PREVENTIVE EDUCATION
Over 40 million people around the world are living with HIV and many of them are involved in sports, either as spectators or as participants. The sports community has not been spared.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF SPORT - It is a responsibility of the Olympic Movement to make a contribution, as part of civil society. HIV and AIDS are threatening to destroy our collective sporting future and everyone must play their part in this fight. This is why all of us - a father or mother, a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a teacher or a coach, an administrator or a community leader, an athlete or a spectator - are being called on to play a part in the response to HIV and AIDS and in the fight against discrimination.
A TOOLKIT TO HELP YOU - The IOC and UNAIDS have published the first Toolkit for HIV & AIDS prevention through sport. Specifically designed for members of the sports community, it offers :
- 1. more information about HIV & AIDS, how prevention can be effective, how sport can be beneficial for HIV positive persons, all about testing and counseling, and much more;
- 2. numerous activities and programmes to be developed with practical suggestions, from basic information sessions with colleagues or players, to communication campaigns during sports events, or how to elaborate a comprehensive policies for sport organizations themselves;
- 3. specific suggestions of activities for youth from ten to fifteen years old and over, as they are a crucial target group for prevention;
- 4. information on who can assist you, what organizations can provide expertise and support.
PLAY YOUR PART IN PROTECTING THE WORLD AROUND YOU - HELP STOP HIV
SPORT FOR HEALTH
The IOC also supports several initiatives to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles through sport and the sports community.
In cooperation with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), it supported children's anti-measles and anti-polio programmes in Africa by financing advocacy activities through sport amongst youngsters and rural populations. The projects were implemented in collaboration with the local NOCs and the National Red Cross societies.
The IOC has also cooperated with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for many years on the promotion of physical activity for health. Among others, it supports the "Move for Health" and the "Tobacco-Free Sport" campaigns.