Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba named World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health

Soccer LEGEND Didier Drogba has been named as the Earth Well being Organization’s (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for Activity and Overall health.

Drogba, from Côte d’Ivoire, will assistance WHO to market the Organization’s steerage on the gains of actual physical action and other nutritious existence, and highlight the worth of sports activities, especially for youth.

Drogba, who had a stellar vocation with Chelsea and as a two-time African Footballer of the 12 months (2006 and 2009), has a very long track record of collaborating in many wellbeing campaigns these types of as healthier life, anti-malaria and HIV avoidance and handle.

The African icon told WHO’s web page:“I am honoured to crew up with the World Overall health Group and assist its work to assist persons access the maximum stage of wellbeing attainable, primarily young individuals in all nations around the world,” in the course of his ambassadorship announcement celebration at WHO’s Geneva headquarters. “I have benefited 1st hand from the power of sports to lead a wholesome existence and I am dedicated to doing the job with WHO to share these kinds of gains around the globe.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-Typical, hailed Drogba as not only a football legend but a dedicated advocate for the health and fitness and sustainable improvement of communities, and added that his aid for WHO can aid control the rising burden of noncommunicable illnesses (NCDs) by the promotion of nutritious lifestyles, together with the added benefits of actual physical action and sports for all men and women.

“Didier is a demonstrated champion and video game changer both of those on and off the pitch,” mentioned Dr Tedros. “We are pleased to have him enjoying on our workforce, and serving to communities throughout the world achieve and score ambitions as a result of sports for their bodily and mental health and fitness and properly-remaining.

“He will also help the mobilization of the worldwide local community to boost athletics as an critical suggests for bettering the bodily, mental overall health and social nicely-staying of all persons, together with in helping COVID-19 restoration endeavours.”

Present-day global estimates show 4 in 5 adolescents, and just one in 4 adults, do not do plenty of bodily activity. Increased actual physical inactivity also negatively impacts well being units, the environment, financial improvement, group nicely-currently being, and excellent of existence. Common actual physical activity, like through sporting activities, can help reduced blood strain and lower the threat of hypertension, coronary heart sickness, stroke, diabetic issues, and different types of cancer (which include breast most cancers and colon cancer).

Drogba’s announcement as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador was manufactured in the course of a ceremony to launch the Wholesome 2022 Earth Cup – Producing Legacy for Activity and Overall health partnership concerning Qatar’s Ministry of General public Wellbeing and its Supreme Committee for Shipping and Legacy, WHO and world football’s governing overall body, FIFA.