Olympic and Paralympic athletes from around the world, including two-time Indian Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, have called on world leaders to ensure equal access to Covid-19 vaccines.

In a video produced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes called on world leaders and policy makers to ensure free and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. The call came weeks before the start of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, which will be held from February 4-20.

The video was opened by the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday and has been watched by more than 20 Olympians and Paralympians from around the world.

These include Olympic champions Federica Pellegrini (swimming, Italy) and Seung-min Ryo (table tennis, South Korea), three-time Olympic medalist Pau Gasol (basketball, Spain), two-time Olympic medalist Maya Martina and Luchuska (cycling, Poland)). ) and Humphrey Kayang (Rugby, Kenya), all of whom are members of the IOC Athletes Committee.

Also among them were several Olympic and Paralympic champions: Olympic champion Valerie Adams (athletics, New Zealand), Alistair Brownlee (triathlon, UK), Osia Collinso (rugby, Fiji), Gianmarco Tampere (athletics, Italy) and President International Federation. Olympic Committee Thomas Bach (fence); Paralympic champions Martina Kironi (athletics, Italy), Eli Cole (swimming, Australia), Jakob Krakow (alpine skiing, Slovakia), Tatiana McFadden (athletics, cross-country skiing, USA), Jetsk Wesser (basketball ) in a wheelchair, The Netherlands) and Annika Zen (cycling, Germany).

The other contenders are: Olympic medalist Danka Bartikova (shooting, Slovakia), PV Sindhu (badminton, India) and Luisa Zlotkowska (speed skating, Poland); Olympians Gabe Arens (shooting, Namibia), Jonathan Burley (athletics, Belgium), Uchi Ike (gymnastics, Nigeria), Anne Christine Julia (sailing, Germany), Alex Hua Tian (horse riding, China), Neluka Karunaratne (badminton , Sri Lanka)), Sylvia Mittermler (snowboarding, Germany), Alexei Pappas (athletics, Greece), Akiko Thompson (swimming, Philippines) and Gabriela Tranna (athletics, Costa Rica), the IOC said in a statement.

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In their message, the athletes emphasized the importance of staying united in order to successfully fight the pandemic: “As athletes, we can unite the world through the power of sport. Now, more than ever, we are united to harness the power of sport and the Olympic and Paralympic movements to help win the fight against COVID as we go faster, aim higher, and get stronger when we stand together.

They continue: “We have a safe and effective vaccine that can help save precious lives and protect our friends…and families. That’s why we’re calling on governments, foundations, philanthropists, health organizations and social companies to work together to ensure free and equal access to a vaccine around the world to live up to our collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable.” Like everyone on this planet. He has the right to a healthy life. Each other.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has joined world leaders in calling for 70 percent of the population of all countries to be vaccinated by early July 2022 to end the acute phase of the disease. Epidemic.

It is an effort by the International Olympic Committee to engage the world’s best athletes to motivate world leaders to ensure that a vaccine is available to all.

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