UEFA Teams Up With The World Heart Federation To Promote Physical Activity And Fight Obesity

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 20 Dec 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has chosen the World Heart Federation as one of its six core partners under its Football and Social Responsibility portfolio. The programme is aimed at strengthening the health and integrity of both football and society as a whole. The partnership will support the World Heart Federation's mission to promote healthy active lifestyles to prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease.

This formal agreement marks the strengthening of a relationship between the World Heart Federation and UEFA that started in 2003. For example, UEFA has supported World Heart Day, World Heart Federation's major annual global campaign against cardiovascular disease and stroke. The Day is staged in 100 countries, involving a wide range of activities and reaching hundreds of millions of people, including football-related events organised by UEFA member associations.

Speaking on the new partnership, William Gaillard UEFA's Director of Communications and Public Affairs said: "The World Heart Federation's work promoting a healthy diet and active lifestyle is a perfect fit with UEFA. Both organizations are committed to encouraging more physical activity, especially amongst children. We realised that obesity is a growing issue that threatens health and well being all around Europe. We're taking the opportunity to help tackle it, especially amongst children. We already have had a number of initiatives to meet this objective, including the joint European Commission's and UEFA's creation of a "Get Active" TV spot that encourages people of all ages and abilities to play sport. It is currently being shown across Europe at half time of Champions League matches throughout the 2007/08 season."

Dr Pekka Puska, President Elect for the World Heart Federation added: "We're delighted to be formalising our relationship with UEFA to promote physical activity and sport, especially amongst the young. There are 155 million overweight and obese children in the world today with this figure looking set to rise - a very worrying sign for the future risk of heart disease and stroke amongst adults."

"UEFA has helped bring major football stars into the World Heart Day campaign, including Fabio Cannavaro, Steven Gerard and Gérard Houllier. This has helped to raise considerable media interest across the world and we very much look forward to building on this success."

About the Union of European Football Associations

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the governing body of football on the continent of Europe. UEFA's core mission is to promote, protect and develop European football, to promote the principles of unity and solidarity and to deal with all questions relating to European football. UEFA is an association of associations based on representative democracy. The Association promotes positive sporting values, including fair play and anti-racism, as well as safe and secure match environments.

About the World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and stroke, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. It is comprised of 195 member societies of cardiology and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa.

World Heart Federation