When the Olympic flame was lit in Tokyo in 2021, it burned not only as a symbol of athletic excellence, but also as a beacon of resilience, hope and global solidarity. As the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, the successful delivery of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 offered more than competition; it showed that with strong partnerships, careful planning and a shared commitment to health, the world could come together, even in its most challenging moments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) was proud to stand alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during this critical time. Our close collaboration with the IOC, Japanese and Chinese authorities, and international public health experts made it possible to host these Games safely. We collaboratively developed and implemented robust Covid-19 prevention and response measures that protected athletes, officials and communities, setting a global precedent for how major events could take place during a health crisis.
Sport is a powerful enabler of health. It inspires movement, strengthens communities and uplifts the spirit. The Games held during the pandemic reminded us that sport promotes connection as well as physical and mental well-being, especially when movement was restricted and isolation widespread.
Over the past several years, the IOC and WHO have worked hand in hand to leverage the power of sport in advancing global health. Our joint Let’s Move campaign, launched in 2023, calls on people everywhere to embrace physical activity in their daily lives. Athletes have been at the forefront of this movement, motivating millions to take small steps towards better health.
During the Olympic Games Paris 2024, we saw this vision come to life. Thanks to evidence from WHO on the health benefits of physical activity, the leadership of the IOC and France’s commitment to using sport as a tool for well-being, we witnessed a lasting legacy: the introduction of daily physical activity programmes in all French schools. It is a powerful example of how the Olympic Movement can drive policy change and thereby create healthier futures.
To support these efforts more broadly, WHO launched the Sport for Health programme, which integrates health into all aspects of sport, from mega-events to grassroots participation. This includes promoting healthier food options, mental health, tobacco-free environments and stronger health security in sporting venues. Through this initiative, we work with host countries, sports federations and health partners to make sport safer, healthier and more inclusive for everyone – from elite athletes to fans of all ages, volunteers and local communities.
As we look back on the past 12 years of Olympic reform and leadership, I want to pay special tribute to Thomas Bach. First and foremost, Thomas is a great leader whose vision has shaped the Olympic Movement into a force for inclusion, sustainability and global good. But more than that, he is a true friend. In times of crisis, true friendships are revealed. The IOC’s partnership with WHO during the pandemic was a testament to the power of friendship, trust, teamwork and a shared purpose.
© IOC/Greg Martin
On behalf of the World Health Organization, I thank Thomas for his steadfast commitment to health, and for always keeping people at the heart of the Olympic mission. I also extend my best wishes and support to new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, and look forward to WHO and the IOC building on the legacy of what we have achieved and taking our partnership to the next level for many years to come.
Born in the Eritrean city of Asmara, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus served in Ethiopia’s federal government for over a decade as Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In May 2017, he was was elected WHO Director-General, becoming the first person from the WHO African Region to head the world’s leading public health agency.
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