A/HRC/32/33 done to ensure that the human rights of everybody who is connected with major sporting events are protected and that these events are not merely held as a spectacle. VI. Good-practice approaches to sport and healthy lifestyles 92. Specific laws, policies, programmes and interventions embodying human rights standards should be implemented to enable and encourage individuals to participate in sport and physical activity and achieve the highest attainable standard of health. However, selecting appropriate programmes is challenging, given that there is insufficient robust research for a conclusion to be drawn regarding the effectiveness of many programmes involving sport or physical activity, or the research that does exist suggests that many programmes are ineffective. Systematic reviews have detected an absence of high-quality evidence that could support interventions implemented through sporting organizations to promote healthy behaviour change 73 and interventions delivered by sporting organizations to increase participation in sport.74 A recent systematic review of community-wide interventions for increasing physical activity found minimal evidence of higher rates of participation in physical activity at the population level.75 93. However, current research indicates that certain successful interventions share specific common elements. Essential prerequisites, identified by WHO, to large-scale physical activity programmes in developing countries include high-level political commitment/a guiding national policy, funding, stakeholder support, and a coordinating team.76 Moreover, WHO and its regional offices have developed surveillance tools and materials to promote physical activity which can guide national governments in strengthening and supporting efforts to increase participation. 77 94. In the consultations connected with the present report, new initiatives reported by States indicated great interest and creativity in regard to the promotion of sport and healthy lifestyles. These included a “Health Academy” programme incorporated into a basic healthcare scheme (Brazil); the removal of taxes on sporting goods (Brunei and Mauritius); frameworks for the inclusion of minority groups, namely Roma (Bulgaria); the recognition of sport as a cultural right (Finland); the implementation of school sports programmes, such as “Sports Olympiads” (Georgia); free public sports programmes, including Zumba dancing (Honduras), aerobics classes (Malta) and “School of Health” volunteer-led exercise classes (Slovenia); doctors “prescribing” exercise to patients (Israel); an annual “Sports Day” (Qatar); and citizen-led cycling groups (Saudi Arabia). 95. Although the above-mentioned initiatives are welcomed, there is a paucity of evidence on them. States should monitor and evaluate their programmes, policies and interventions for efficacy and for compliance with human rights standards and obligations, and should ensure that participation by the individuals affected is guaranteed in the design and revision stages. 73 74 75 76 77 N. Priest and others, “Policy interventions implemented through sporting organizations to promote healthy behaviour change”, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3. N. Priest and others, “Interventions implemented through sporting organizations for increasing people’s participation in sport”, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 3. P.R.A. Baker and others, “Community-wide interventions for increasing physical activity”, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 5. WHO, “Review of best practice in interventions to promote physical activity in developing countries”, WHO Workshop on Physical Activity and Public Health (Beijing, October 2005) . WHO Regional Office for Europe, “Physical activity strategy for the WHO European region 20162025”. 21

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents