Ahead of the Paris Olympic Games 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released a new global initiative to encourage adolescents to enjoy movement with the aim of combatting inactivity.
According to research by the WHO, 81% of adolescents aren’t active enough for optimal health. Particularly effecting adolescent girls, with 85% of girls vs 78% of boys not meeting WHO recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. For context, that would be a brisk walk or perhaps a sports match.
With the countdown to the Olympics underway, the IOC has spearheaded this initiative to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of many young people, with the goal to break down barriers to movement.
Named the ‘Let’s Move and Celebrate’ initiative, to reverse the worrying statistics, the IOC claims it will encourage young people to celebrate the games with social media posts showcasing their dance moves using the hashtag #LetsMove. The organisers have emphasised the sentiment that everyone should have the opportunity to exercise, athlete or not.
‘The Olympic Games are a showcase of the world’s finest athletes demonstrating what the human body is capable of,’ says WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ‘But you don’t have to be an Olympian to be active. WHO is proud to partner again with the IOC through the Let’s Move campaign, to inspire people of all ages to be more physically active and healthy.’
Athletes such as gymnast Noemi Romero, rugby player Eduardo Lopez, and Olympic legends Alistair Brownlee and Lindsey Vonn are also in support of the campaign to get people moving this summer.
Standing behind the initiative, GB double Olympic triathlon gold medallist, Brownlee, said: ‘Let’s Move is a great initiative, as it demonstrates to everyone the joy and simplicity of movement. Movement and exercise are such an important part of everyone’s health, and it’s brilliant to see how the Olympic movement can transcend all levels of fitness to encourage everyone to move in their own way.’
Over 110 National Olympic Committees will come together on Olympic Day, June 23, to host events which will provide an excellent opportunity to make movement more accessible and inclusive for everyone worldwide.