Media Release: Fitness Australia to take part in the second World Health Organization Dialogue on the Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity
Joel Perricone, National Manager, Advocacy and Partnerships, Fitness Australia – the peak national industry association – has been invited to attend the second World Health Organisation (WHO) Dialogue with the Sports Industry on the Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 25-26 February 2019.
“It’s a tremendous honour for me to be taking the opportunity to showcase the great work of the Australian fitness industry in front of a global audience,” says Perricone.
“We know that the fitness industry has a major role to play in improving the health of Australians, but as a nation, we still have a long way to go. Being part of this discussion on a global scale gives us the opportunity to learn from examples of good practice by our counterparts in other countries.”
“I hope to come back from Geneva with ways that the Australian fitness industry can impact the health of the global population,” explains Perricone.
Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and treat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and breast and colon cancer. It also helps prevent hypertension and obesity and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being. Yet, much of the world is becoming less active.
WHO has developed a new global action plan to help countries scale up policy actions to promote physical activity. It responds to the requests by countries for updated guidance, and a framework of effective and feasible policy actions to increase physical activity at all levels.
The plan sets out four objectives and recommends 20 policy actions that are applicable to all countries and address the cultural, environmental and individual determinants of inactivity.
The objective of the second Dialogue is to further discuss emerging areas of shared interest as identified during the first Dialogue: 1) building knowledge (through evaluation and market research); 2) global communications campaign on physical activity; 3) joint initiatives to address priority issues and population such as inequalities in participation by girls, women, disadvantaged communities and people living with disabilities; and 4) joint initiatives to demonstrate whole of community approach to GAPPA implementation in a set of target countries.
The second Dialogue will be hosted by WHO. Participation in the Dialogue is through invitation only. Participants will include about 20 representatives from the sports industry, including apparel, equipment, fitness and gym industries, and senior WHO officials.
For more information about the Global Action Plan 2018-2030: “More active people for a healthier world” visit the WHO website
To follow Joel’s trip in Geneva later this month, be sure to follow Fitness Australia on Facebook
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.