UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and the President of the Russian Olympic Committee and First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Alexander Zhukov, signed an agreement on 23 March to join forces to accelerate the global goal of ending the AIDS epidemic. The memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the fifth Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference, being held in Moscow, Russian Federation.
The memorandum of understanding commits UNAIDS and the Russian Olympic Committee to work together to raise HIV awareness among athletes and sports fans, promote access to HIV treatment and reduce the health, social and economic impact of the AIDS epidemic. The programme will also involve addressing stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV, including athletes.
UNAIDS and the Russian Olympic Committee will exchange and share know-how and will involve athletes, sports associations and nongovernmental organizations in HIV prevention and awareness efforts at the national and community levels. They will also cooperate in running media campaigns and other HIV-related programmes with athletes, coaches and other opinion leaders from the sports community in the Russian Federation and internationally, particularly in eastern Europe and central Asia.
UNAIDS has been working in partnership with the International Olympic Committee on AIDS awareness and HIV prevention since 2004.
“The Russian Olympic Committee is the first in Europe to join with UNAIDS to advance our goal of ending the AIDS epidemic. Given the Russian Federation’s love of sport and dedication to ending the AIDS epidemic, this innovative partnership will have a positive impact in the country and around the world.”
Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director
“Sport events give everyone an excellent opportunity to enjoy a healthy life and build confidence, get adequate information about HIV and combat discrimination against people living with HIV. I firmly believe that together with UNAIDS we will achieve considerable success in this area. This is extremely important in order to build a productive and healthy society.”
Alexander Zhukov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee and First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma
