Geneva:A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals alarmingly low levels of physical activity among young people globally. Only 14% of adolescents meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with one in four having no active days in the previous week, representing around 240 million adolescents.
According to Emirates News Agency, the WHO findings also expose a significant gender gap, with girls being less active than boys in nearly every country. Specifically, 28% of girls reported no active days in the past week compared to 22% of boys. This discrepancy underscores the need for policies and programs to address barriers faced by women and girls in sport and physical activity.
The report emphasizes the role of sports in engaging young people and providing opportunities for participation. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Movement are actively investing in programs that promote participation and equal access to sports. Despite limited progress over the past 15 years, the report calls for coordinated actions across sectors to create safe and accessible opportunities for adolescents to be physically active.
A key aspect of the IOC's efforts is the Let's Move campaign, developed in collaboration with WHO, which encourages young people to become active with the empowering message 'You Can Do This!'. Since 2022, IOC-supported initiatives have engaged over 50 million people through various sport participation programs, policy changes, and advocacy efforts, reaching underserved communities and advancing health, education, equality, and inclusion.