By David Gold
July 16 – The Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF), FIFA and the Organising Committee for Brazil 2014 have joined together to launch a Football for Health programme.
The agreement was finalised in the Brazilian capital Brasilia, and the Government is to select a team which will work with the three parties to create a football health programme in the country.
The aim is to pilot a project in Brazilian schools ahead of the Confederations Cup which takes place next year.
“We are very enthusiastic to cooperate and become an integral partner in this project,” said Adriano Massuda, the Brazilian Deputy Secretary of Health.
“The aim is to use the passion for football and the World Cup in our country to promote football as health-enhancing leisure and to improve social behaviours, which are goals we fully share with FIFA.
“The idea to use football stars as ambassadors to disseminate simple and educational health messages to tackle important social issues is simply great.”
FIFA’s chief medical officer, Professor Jiri Dvorak (pictured above), said: “Today we laid the foundations to ensure that the 2014 World Cup will serve as a catalyst to improve the life of young people in Brazil well beyond the final whistle.
“With the cooperation of the Brazilian Government and the Brazilian football structures, we will set the ball rolling through the 11 for Health programme (pictured top) for the benefit of all Brazilians.”
The Ministry of Sports executive secretary Luis Fernandes said: “It is a fantastic initiative to promote social development, which is one of the most important legacies that the World Cup can leave in the country.
“Promoting health and education through sports activities, through football, is an opportunity and an important goal for the Brazilian Government.”
At the same time the health project was launched, discussions also took place around medical preparations for the Confederations Cup and World Cup.
There is a determination to use the World Cup to build medical infrastructure and expertise in the country.
Though Brazilians enjoy life expectancy above the world average, obesity is an issue in the country, with 16.5 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women at risk because of their weight.
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