Didier Drogba, the football legend known for his exemplary career at Chelsea, has been appointed as the World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health.
Drogba’s new role will involve promoting WHO’s guidance on the benefits of physical activity and other healthy lifestyles, and highlight the value of sports, particularly for youth.
Originally from Côte d’Ivoire, Drogba was crowned the African Footballer of the Year in 2006 and 2009.
He has a brilliant and a long track record of participating in various health campaigns such as healthy lifestyles, anti-malaria and HIV prevention and control.
“I am honored to team up with the World Health Organization and support its work to help people reach the highest level of health possible, especially young people in all countries,” Drogba said during his ambassadorship announcement event at WHO’s Geneva headquarters.
“I have benefited first hand from the power of sports to lead a healthy life and I am committed to working with WHO to share such gains worldwide,” he added.
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Didier Drogba’s support for WHO can help curb the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through the promotion of healthy lifestyles. This includes benefits of physical activity and sports for all people.
His position will allow him to help communities worldwide reach and score goals through sports for their physical and mental health and well-being.
“He will also support the mobilization of the international community to promote sports as an essential means for improving the physical, mental health and social well-being of all people,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Drogba joins other WHO ambassadors including champion Brazilian footballer Alisson Becker; Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Cynthia Germanotta, President of the Born This Way Foundation; and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.