The data collected worldwide related to health are indisputable. The increase of noncommunicable diseases and the effect of sedentariness in people’s lives certainly represents one of the major public health challenges in the next decades. Addressing these challenges requires collecting data and evidence and developing strong and cross-cutting policies. The role of cities in developing such strategies is crucial to achieve effective results, since cities are on the front line when it comes to improving people’s health by promoting healthy lifestyles and adapting urban environments to better stimulate physical activities.
But how to convert information and data into effective strategies?
We have developed this publication to give you some insights and share with you some creative initiatives that will inspire you to take concrete actions.
As such, Marie Sallois Dembreville, IOC Director Corporate and Sustainable Development, underlines the commitment of the International Olympic Committee to supporting healthy lifestyles through different initiatives to develop Sport For All and encourage cities to leverage sport events to create a strong health legacy. Fernando Parente, FISU Executive Committee Member, explains how the FISU is developing the concept of a healthy campus, seizing the opportunity of raising awareness of healthy lifestyles to millions of students who are the leaders of tomorrow.
And finally, Jakub Kalinowski, V4Sport Foundation President, shares a very personal point of view on the importance of small data and how to use it to get effective changes.
In addition, this publication highlights three different cities’ strategy. First, the global strategy of the City of Helsinki to bring all the stakeholders together and to create an ecosystem to tackle the different aspects of physical inactivity. Then, the strategy of the City of Dakar and of the City of Singapore who chose to go through a process of international certification. International standards can represent a support in this process and a tool by which cities can evaluate and improve the health of their citizens. Two standards are presented here: Global Active Cities, an ISO compatible norm, and Active Citizens Worldwide, a data driven methodology.
Enjoy the reading!Mélanie Duparc
Director of Smart Cities & Sport
Secretary General of the World Union of Olympic Cities