77th World Health Assembly: IOC president advocates for sport to combat non-communicable diseases, praises athlete contributions during pandemic
Geneva, 27 May 2024 – The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, in a speech delivered at the 77th World Health Assembly, emphasized the crucial role of sport in promoting health and resilience in communities worldwide.
The President highlighted the success of the “Let’s Move” campaigns, a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the IOC. He stated, “When our next ‘Let’s Move’ campaign kicks-off on Olympic Day, the 23rd of June, we will once again inspire people to move for health, getting millions of people around the globe to warm-up for the Olympic Games and celebrate the joy of sport.”
He expressed his gratitude to the WHO, particularly its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, for their support during the pandemic. He noted, “The pandemic made it crystal clear how important sport is for our physical and mental health. Sport can save lives.”
IOC President Thomas Bach is addressing the 77th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (@WHO). Follow live: https://t.co/qgQvvxAj1I
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) May 27, 2024
The President also acknowledged the role of sport in combating non-communicable diseases, which accounted for the majority of mortality during the pandemic. He said, “For all these diseases and predispositions, sport is an excellent tool for prevention.”
The IOC President praised the athletes who stepped up during the pandemic, joining pro-vaccination campaigns, working in hospitals, and encouraging people to stay active and healthy. He said, “Countless athletes stepped up to the fight against the virus… showing us that sport gives us hope.”
He also highlighted the successful organization of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 during the pandemic, attributing their safe execution to the comprehensive countermeasures and vaccination programs developed in collaboration with the WHO.
Looking ahead, the President emphasized the need for future cooperation with the WHO to promote the health of refugees. He said, “It was encouraging to see the WHO including health of refugees and migrants in your most recent Global Action Plan.”
In conclusion, the President invited everyone to live the Olympic motto: “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together,” and added a humble addition to the theme of the World Health Assembly, “All for Health, Health for All… Sport for All.”
