WBSC encourages everyone to Let's Move on Olympic Day

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched on Olympic Day, 23 June, a new global initiative to inspire and enable the world to move more every day. Olympians Allyson Felix (seven gold medals in track and field, USA), Pau Gasol (two silver and a bronze medal in basketball, Spain), Pusarla Venkata (P) Sindhu (one silver and a bronze medal in badminton, India), and Yusra Mardini (Refugee Olympic Team in swimming, Syria) are testimonials of the Let's Move campaign.

"The world is moving faster than ever, but people are moving less," the IOC said in a press release. "Research has found that one in four adults and over 80 per cent of young people do not meet the recommended minimum activity levels needed for optimum health."

Regular physical activity can help prevent or manage certain diseases, like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancers. It also helps prevent hypertension, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Being active also ensures healthy growth and development in young people and staying healthy in later life.

"On Olympic Day, we celebrate the Olympic Movement's mission to make the world a better place through sport," said IOC President Thomas Bach. "When we do sport, it keeps our mind and body strong and healthy. When we do sport, it inspires us always to give it our best, makes us dream, spreads joy, and brings us together. This year, together with the WHO, we are highlighting sport's positive impacts on physical and mental health. We want to inspire the world to move more every day. Sport and physical activity are low-cost, high-impact tools for healthy bodies, minds, and resilient communities.

"The Olympic Movement has a unique ability to harness the power of increased physical activity through sport for improving public health," added Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Heath Organisation (WHO) Director-General. "Olympians are more than athletes: they are role models for people to enjoy sport and the benefits of physical activity. The Let's Move initiative, supported by the WHO, combines the power of the Olympics and the WHO's advice on physical activity to help inspire and motivate people to move more for better health."

On Olympic Day, the WBSC encourages all members and stakeholders to follow the digital invitation by Felix, Gasol, Sindhu and Mardini and schedule 30 minutes to move this day with them, joining the Let's Move Olympic Day digital workout from anywhere in the world, with the ambition of turning this into a daily habit.

Past and future Olympic hosts will also participate in the initiative by encouraging people to exercise in their local communities. Paris 2024 (along with the French Ministry of National Education and Youth and the Ministry of Sport, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games) has already introduced 30 minutes of physical activity as part of the school curriculum over the past 12 months in recognition of the multitude of mental and physical health benefits of daily exercise.