Working with sporting organizations

© UNICEF/HQ04-0396/Bonn

Sport, recreation and play are increasingly important elements of UNICEF’s programmes around the world.  UNICEF is developing specific partnership activities with key sports partners in support of the global campaign on Children and AIDS. Some of UNICEF’s sport partners already supporting the global campaign include The International Olympic Committee (IOC) the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

Recently UNICEF participated in a workshop on HIV/AIDS prevention through sport in New Delhi, organized by the International Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the Indian Olympic Association, UNAIDS, UNICEF, and the IFRC.

The workshop focussed on how the Olympic movement could use sport as a tool in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention including the launch of a UNAIDS Toolkit on HIV/AIDS prevention through sport.

On 25th October 2005, ATP players, officials and ball kids in tournaments across Europe wore blue shoestrings in support of UNICEF’s global launch of its UNITE FOR CHILDREN  UNITE AGAINST AIDS Campaign. In Basel, Switzerland, Lyon, France, and St. Petersburg, Russia the players' blue shoestrings symbolized the ATP’s commitment to the Children and AIDS campaign.

The NBA partnership with UNICEF is committed to the ongoing support of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programmes in support of  the UNITE FOR CHILDREN  UNITE AGAINST AIDS Campaign.

For several year the NBA hassupported HIV/AIDS awareness in its players through its Basketball without Borders program.

Basketball without Borders is a basketball instructional camp for young people promoting leadership, education, sportsmanship and healthy living. The program incorporates seminars on important social issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. To date, more than 440 youngsters from 72 different countries and territories have taken part in the NBA and FIBA program.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) selects the young players (ages 19 and under) based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport of basketball. To promote friendship and diversity, the campers are divided into teams without regard to race and nationality, sharing living quarters with their teammates and participating in daily seminars that promote education, leadership, character, healthy living and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.