Reportage

Danny Jordaan and UNAIDS Executive Director discuss global AIDS outreach around FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa

04 décembre 2009

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UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé (left) met with Mr Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Organising Committee, Cape Town 2 December 2009.
Credit: UNAIDS

The World Cup 2010 draw will take place later today in Cape Town South Africa at a ceremony with representatives of the teams from the 32 countries that have qualified for the tournament. The draw will decide who the teams will play in the tournament set to kick off on 11 June and will be eagerly watched by millions of fans around the world.

President Zuma’s new policies on HIV mark a fundamental break from the past, shattering years of official ambivalence, rallying citizens to take responsibility for learning their status, reducing their risk and seeking treatment.

Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director

Earlier this week in Cape Town, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with Mr Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South African Organising Committee to discuss support for global outreach on HIV by the South African government around the epic event which will take place next summer.

Mr Sidibé told Mr Jordaan that “President Zuma’s new policies on HIV mark a fundamental break from the past, shattering years of official ambivalence, rallying citizens to take responsibility for learning their status, reducing their risk and seeking treatment.”

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Michel Sidibé and Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Organising Committee, discussed support for global outreach on HIV around the 2010 World Cup which will take place in South Africa next summer.
Credit: UNAIDS

South African President Jacob Zuma has placed his country in the front line of worldwide efforts to turn the tide against the AIDS epidemic, and the World Cup will be a key opportunity to convey life-saving messages on prevention, achieving universal access, and overcoming stigma and discrimination.

It is about much more than 90 minutes of world-class football in each game. As the first developing country to host the event, with Brazil following in 2014, we must be engaged in the struggle on major issues facing Africa and developing countries worldwide.

Mr Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Mr Jordaan highlighted the significance of the World Cup tournament to South Africa: “It is about much more than 90 minutes of world-class football in each game. As the first developing country to host the event, with Brazil following in 2014, we must be engaged in the struggle on major issues facing Africa and developing countries worldwide.”

He added that, “The first thing is the battle for minds to fight stigma and discrimination in strengthening the AIDS response.” Mr Jordaan cited the example of South African judge Edwin Cameron, a vocal campaigner for gay rights who was the first senior official in the country to state that he is living with HIV. At a recent banquet of the local organising committee, Justice Cameron spoke against stigmatization, saying, “I am the virus that you fear so much.”

The President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Mr Kirsten Nematandani, and Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, Vice President of SAFA also participated in the meeting.

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(from left) Djibril Diallo, Senior Communication Advisor UNAIDS; Bunmi Makinwa, Regional Director, Africa, UNFPA; Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director; Danny Jordan, CEO of the FIFA Local Organising Committee South Africa; Kirsten Nematandani, President of the South African football Association (SAFA); Luis Loures, Director of the Executive Office UNAIDS; Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, Vice President of the South African football Association (SAFA) Credit: UNAIDS

Mr Sidibé expressed thanks to Mr Jordaan for his strong commitment to AIDS advocacy and welcomed South African initiatives on AIDS related to the World Cup.

The Executive Director earlier met with South African Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Mr Kgalema Motlante, Deputy President of the Government of South Africa and their discussion included the government’s advocacy efforts around the World Cup. During his visit to Pretoria, the Executive Director conferred with United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr Agostino Zacharias concerning plans for activities by the UN system on HIV for the World Cup.