|  | Feature: Healthy Living Move for Health | No.49 January 2007 |
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Introduction: A Move for Health Day Each Year Kari Keskinen & Sandra Matsudo |
The World Health Organisation (WHO) proposes that Member States celebrate a Move for Health day on 10 May of each year, or at a time and duration that best suits them. The recommendation was first made by the 55th World Health Assembly (May, 2002) in its resolution WHA55/23 on Diet, Physical Activity and Health which urges Member States to celebrate a Move for Health day to promote physical activity as essential for health and well being. The slogan of Agita Mundo/Move for Health was adopted and it was decided to start officially the celebrations in Sao Paulo. In October 2002, a group of representatives of institutions and countries decided to launch the Agita Mundo Network. Today it comprises about 310 institutions from 58 countries and has organized successfully the World Day for Physical Activity every year. The annual Move for Health Day recommended by and to Member States is primarily a national priority, allowing optimal logistics and an exploitation of local sport, social and cultural opportunities. This task is everybody’s responsibility: government and development sectors, civil society including NGOs and professional organisations, private sector, communities, individuals, national and international sport bodies, United Nations Agencies with a leading/coordinating WHO role, and relevant international support partners, countries and institutions. Each year has a theme to be loosely followed. In 2003 the Move for Health focus was a global initiative to promote physical activity as essential for health and well-being. In 2004, Active Youth was promoted as appropriate regular physical activity will provide young people with substantial physical, mental and social health gains and help maintain optimal health and functional capacity throughout the life course. In the year 2005, the focus was put on Supportive Environments, as evidence shows that physical activity-friendly environments encourage more people to engage and participate in physical activity. In 2006 the campaign was focusing on Active Communities, aiming to create opportunities for people to get up and moving through various group activities, active leisure, active transport and active living. The theme for 2007 will be Active Workplaces, which should be adopted with a scope wide open to include all kinds of workplaces with both employers and employees. This issue of the ICSSPE Bulletin will make its own effort in promoting the WHO’s world initiative further. The featured articles from all around the globe will give some insight to the national campaigns and provide activists with good practices to be used for everyones benefit so that we all can simply start moving:
Hop like a rabbit.
| Take the stairs.
Bicycle home.
| Or take a stretch.
Break your daily routine.
| Catch yourself exercising – all year long!
Remember you just need at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day at least five days per week to get your passport for health!
Dr. Kari L. Keskinen Finnish Society of Sport Sciences Finland | Dr. Sandra MM Matsudo CELAFISCS & Agita São Paulo Brasil
http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 Introduction: A Move for Health Day Each Year Kari Keskinen & Sandra Matsudo