World Health Organization Collaborates for a Safe and Healthy Paris Olympics
The World Health Organization (WHO) is significantly involved in the upcoming Paris Olympics, working alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the French authorities to ensure that this prominent global event, commencing this Friday, prioritizes health and safety for both athletes and spectators.
According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, “As athletes gear up for the Paris Games, WHO has been diligently collaborating with IOC and France’s Government to guarantee that these Games foster health and well-being for every participant involved. Our endeavors include promoting physical activity and tackling various health threats effectively.”
Promoting Physical Activity through New Initiatives
In collaboration with IOC under a renewed memorandum of understanding first established in 2020, WHO has rolled out the Let’s Move campaign. This initiative aims to harness the excitement of sports during the Olympics to inspire both famous athletes and communities globally towards adopting healthier lifestyles.
The French Government is channeling efforts into further establishing a legacy from these games by launching a program encouraging students across France to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily—promoting sustained wellness beyond the event.
Error Management Preparedness
The WHO’s health security professionals at its Geneva headquarters, as well as those based in Copenhagen’s European Regional Office, are extending their support to national bodies ensuring public safety before, during, and after this significant event. Their focus includes management strategies for potential issues ranging from heatwaves to infectious disease outbreaks and even food safety challenges or crowd control crises.
An Informative Guide for Travellers
The organization has also collaborated with European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) along with French authorities to establish comprehensive public health guidance. This guidance assists travelers expected during both Olympics beginning later this month on August 28th — particularly regarding necessary vaccinations against diseases like respiratory infections or mosquito-borne illnesses while also advising on hydration tactics given France’s summer climate.
Evolving Health Surveillance Efforts
Participating in simulation exercises organized by IOC tailored explicitly toward public health protocols essential during competitions—WHO aims at establishing surveillance systems specific to Olympic events while contributing daily reports in conjunction with ECDC. These reports aid early detection mechanisms concerning any emerging public health incidents assisting timely responses necessary throughout the games’ duration.
Spearheading Nutrition Initiatives Prior To Next Year’s Summit
This week will see Dr. Tedros participate alongside various leaders in an ‘#Olympic Torch Relay’ event while also engaging at a recent Paris Summit on Sports for Sustainable Development , organized by the IOC together with France’s Presidency. At this assembly، he indicated commitments from WHO related not just about sporting activities but increasing nutritional mobilization preemptively before next year’s fourth Nutrition-for-Growth summit set again within Paris milestones aimed directly towards improving diet quality among nations while advocating regular physical activity initiatives designed sufficiently counteract obesity challenges targeting an ambitious reduction goal of 5% prevalence rate across select countries by year-end results tracking established timelines through calendar adjustments ahead within targeted evaluations reset meetings coordinated accordingly between stakeholders holding shared interests pertinent over timeframes accountable effectively addressed onward moving jointly supporting sustainable development measures reinforced thus far created congruence amidst implementations henceforth reflecting layer fusions properly aligned.”
[Source](https://www.who.int/news/item/25-07-2024-who-teams-up-with-ioc-and-france-to-support-healthy-paris-olympics){{$end}}
