IPC President joins the WHO’s Walk the Talk in Geneva

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons joined World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday (26 May), for a special Walk the Talk event ahead of the 77th World Health Assembly.

Parsons was part of a panel discussion on the importance of Health for All alongside several illustrious names from the world of sport, including Switzerland‘s six-time Paralympic wheelchair racing champion Marcel Hug, Britain‘s Rio 2016 Paralympic swimming champion Susannah Rodgers, WHO Goodwill ambassador and UEFA Champions League winner Didier Drogba, Kenyan Olympian and 800m world record holder David Rushida, and Spanish NBA basketball star Pau Gasol.

Andrew Parsons said: “Improving the health of every person on this planet through physical activity, and in particular Para sport, is something the IPC is extremely passionate about.

“On the occasion of the 77th World Health Assembly, it was wonderful to be in Geneva to talk about the important role Para sport can play in promoting physical and healthy lifestyles amongst the world‘s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities."

Prior to the panel discussion, the IPC President joined the WHO Director-General in Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge, an event that invited participants of all abilities to cover 3 kilometres or 4.2 km circular routes from the Place des Nations to WHO headquarters and back again. 

The aim of the event was to unite the UN family, Member States, athletes, local sport clubs, health partners and the Geneva community to celebrate the importance of healthy lifestyles.

On Monday, Parsons joined delegations from all WHO Members States to attend the 77th World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of WHO.
In July 2021, the IPC and WHO signed an agreement to work together to foster diversity and equity through global initiatives promoting health and sport for everybody, everywhere.