Sport and Health Bulletin
:Daily
update on the
International Conference on Sport
and Health
Hammamet, Tunisia, 21-24 March 2005
held in conjunction with the
International Year of Sport and Physical Education 2005
22
March 2005
23
March 2005
The conference is held under the patronage of His
Excellency Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia, and organized
by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Physical Education with the
collaboration of the United Nations
Exploring Sport’s Vital Contributions
to Health
21 March –
Official
Opening
More than 250 participants are gathering in Hammamet to discuss the
contributions of sport and physical activity to improving health, which
is vital for progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Mr.
Abdallah Kaâbi, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Education
and Mr. Adolf Ogi, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General
on Sport for Development and Peace, will address the opening session.
The Tunisian Ministry of Youth, Sport and Physical Education is organizing
the Conference under the plan of action for the International Year of
Sport and Physical Education 2005 (IYSPE 2005), which encourages activities
to raise awareness about sport and organize sport, cultural and scientific
events for all people. Mr. Ogi will represent the Secretary-General
in the framework of his mission of promoting understanding and support
for the work and ideals of the United Nations by reaching out to the
world of sports.
22 March – Aspects
of Sport and Health
The first day of the Conference will begin with presentations by
the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Mr. Richard
Pound, and representatives of the United Nations system, including
UNESCO, WHO and UNDP. Their contributions will cover the themes ‘Sports
and Ethics’, ‘Sports and Quality of Life’, ‘Sports
promoting good Health’ and ‘Sports and Development’.
These presentations will be followed by two sessions with participants
representing organizations based in Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland,
France, Brazil, Canada, United States and Tunisia. They will discuss
various aspects of the theme ‘Sports and Quality of Life’,
providing insight to the definition of quality of life and the key
role of sport and physical activity in the lives of children and the
elderly. In addition, participants will examine the role of sport
as a means of promoting good health and development. The day will
be marked by a symbolic run by 1,500 young boys and girls around the
streets of Hammamet.
23 March –
Ethics, Good Health and Beyond
The second and final day of activities will include two sessions on
‘Sports promoting good Health’ and ‘Sports and Ethics’.
Representatives of internationally recognized organizations and institutions
will present their perspectives on policies to promote physical activity
and the endorsement of sports for good health. They will discuss the
ways that sport can help prevent obesity and non-communicable and
cardiovascular diseases, while offering an excellent mean of social
integration for the disabled. Other themes that will be examined include
the impact of sports on violence, its role in combating HIV/AIDS and
in promoting gender equality, and the implications of doping.
24 March –
Code of Good Conduct
The final day of the Conference will include presentations summarizing
the main themes, and the formation of a committee to prepare a Code
of Good Conduct on sport and health. The Code is to be presented at
the Conference on Sport and Development in Magglingen, Switzerland,
on 4-6 December, culminating the International Year of Sport and Physical
Education.
Published by the United Nations Office in Tunisia, the United
Nations New York Office of Sport for Development and Peace, and the
UN Office for th e IYSPE 2005. Editors: Maria Orfanidou, Consultant,
UNDP/Tunisia; Richard Leonard, Communications Specialist, UN New York
Office. Advisors: Francis Dubois, Resident Coordinator, UN/Tunisia;
Djibril Diallo, Director of the UN New York Office on Sport for De
velopment and Peace, Michael Kleiner, Head of UN Office IYSPE 2005;
Aida Robbana, Advisor, UN/Tunisia.
For more information please visit www.un.org/sport2005 or contact:
aida.robbana@undp.org or richard.leonard@undp.org
Up
