The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have launched #BeActive videos featuring regional football stars as part of a joint campaign encouraging ASEAN citizens to lead healthy and active lifestyles amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We are diverse, but if we stick together, we are stronger. Be active today, tomorrow and always!” is the key message from ASEAN football personalities joining hands in the campaign consisting of a series of videos to deliver messages to raise awareness of three themes: Physical Fitness, Sanitation and Hygiene, as well as Mental Health and Well-Being.
“The ASEAN sports sector is currently focusing, among others, on strengthening the contribution of sports to ASEAN community-building. During this pandemic, it is important for us to work hand in hand with our key partners. We are pleased to collaborate with FIFA in this campaign to leverage the role of sports in social development,” said the Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, William Ramirez, in his capacity as the Chair of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports.
The campaign also marks the first initiative for ASEAN and FIFA since signing an agreement in November 2019 on the sidelines of the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok to implement joint activities. The priority areas in the ASEAN-FIFA agreement include the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, FIFA’s Football for Schools Programme, and professional capacity-building in relation to safety and security at football matches, all of which require effective multi-stakeholder cooperation. Hence, the cooperation will be carried out through ASEAN’s Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS).
