
Since 1984, the World Health Organization (WHO) has engaged with the sporting world to promote healthy lifestyle, the benefits of regular physical activity and to fight tobacco use. Recognising the important links between sport, physical activity and health, the 2008 Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the 2004 Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS) have been developed and endorsed by the World Health Assembly. Both documents emphasize the importance to start the practice of adapted physical activity early in childhood.
WHO Forum and Technical Meeting on Population-based Prevention Strategies for Childhood Obesity (Geneva, December 2009)
Physical Activity and Sports component of the implementation of DPAS and the Action Plan on Prevention and Control of NCD (focal point in WHO: Dr. Tim Armstrong, email: armstrongt@who.int)
Collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (focal point in WHO: Dr. Tim Armstrong, email: armstrongt@who.int)
Playing for Health: A Project to Promote the Health of Pre-adolescent Males through Football (focal point in WHO: Mr Paulus Bloem, email: bloemp@who.int)
Mass gathering as opportunities for promotion of Health and Physical Activity - Intersectoral work and Health Legacy of mass gathering events such as the Olympic Games (focal point in WHO: Dr Gauden Galea, email: galeag@who.int)
Luís Figo and the World Tuberculosis Cup
Review of Sport-for-Health approaches in Africa, WHO Tropical Diseases Research (focal point Dr Jane Kengeya Kayondo, Coordinator, Strategic Alliances)
The 7th Global Conference on Health Promotion, Nairobi, Kenya, 26-30 October 2009.
WHO (2010), Global recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO (2009),Interventions on Diet and Physical Activity: What Works, Geneva, Switzerland.
Public Health Agency of Canada/ WHO (2009), Mobilising Intersectoral Action to Promote Health: Case Study of ACT-NOW British Columbia, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, British Colombia, Canada.
WHO (2008), A framework to monitor and evaluate implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO/World Economic Forum (2008), Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases in the Workplace through Diet and Physical Activity: WHO/World Economic Forum Report of a Joint Event, Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO (2008), School Policy Framework: Implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO (2008), 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO (2007), A guide for population-based approaches to increasing levels of physical activity, Geneva, Switzerland.
WHO (2005), Review of Best Practices in Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Developing Countries, 24-27 October, Beijing, China.
WHO (2004), Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health , May, Geneva, Switzerland.
Dr. Tim Armstrong
E-mail: armstrongt(at)who.int
Dr. Gauden Galea
E-mail: galeag@who.int
Mr. Godfrey Xuereb
E-mail: xuerebg(at)who.int
Ms. Vanessa Candeias
E-mail: candeiasv(at)who.int
Mr. Paulus Bloem
E-mail : bloemp(at)who.int
Geneva (UNOSDP) – The London 2012 Olympic Games came to an end yesterday and are already widely lauded as an overall success, with plenty of historic moments that will stay fresh in the minds of many for years to come. But beyond the stadiums, courts and fields where sporting excellence prevailed, the event offered the opportunity to help advance the human development agenda.
London/New York (UN News Centre) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today took part in the traditional torch run ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games which start on Saturday in London, in the United Kingdom.
New York/Geneva (UN News Center, edited by UNOSDP) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will head later this week to London, where he will take part in the torch run for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games on Thursday and attend the opening ceremony on Friday, his spokesperson announced today.
UN News Centre
– The United Nations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are teaming up to promote physical activity and better lifestyle choices that will help people ward off disease and live healthier and longer lives.


World Tourism Organization