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Credits
On 16 and 17 May 2020, WHO, its regional offices and its partners, through a range of online platforms, hosted Walk the Talk: The Health for All Challenge. The event ran like an online virtual global relay, connecting WHO Regional and Country offices around the world on Saturday, 16 May before returning to Geneva 24 hours later on Sunday, 17 May. Nearly 7 million individuals engaged with us through our various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and YouTube. Read the event notice for further information.
The event offered opportunities for people to participate in a variety of virtual, timed events for all ages and abilities, and in accordance with current guidelines for COVID-19. The aim was and always remains to encourage people to be physically active and mentally well for their own health and that of others. The virtual Walk the Talks from WHO headquarters and its six regional offices included interactive physical exercises (fitness, yoga, dancing) sessions, music and art moments, cooking demonstrations, public health information vignettes, and more!
Event programme | Sunday, 17 May | Central European Summer Time
BLOCK 1: 11:00 - 12:00
| Who? | What? |
| Mr Mauro Poggia, State Councillor, Department of Security, Labour and Health, Republic and Canton of Geneva | Welcome statement from the Republic and Canton of Geneva |
| Mr Sami Kanaan, Member of the Executive Council of the City of Geneva and incoming Mayor | Statement |
| Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN | Statement |
| Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO | Welcome statement from WHO |
| Kim Sledge / Sister Sledge | Statement |
| United Colours for Dance and Drums | Interactive dance and drum session |
| Mr Killian Jornet, Trail and Mountain Runner | Interactive physical activity |
| Mr Erik Mudde, President, Servette Field Hockey Club | Statement |
| Servette Field Hockey | Interactive field hockey drills |
| Mr Henri Dès, Swiss-French Children's Songwriter and Singer | Interactive singing for kids |
| Mr James Chau, WHO Goodwill Ambassador | Statement |
| Ambassador Walter Stevens, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the UN | Statement |
| Dr Philip Elders, Youth Delegate to WHO from the Netherlands | Statement |
BLOCK 2: 12:00 - 13:45
| Who? | What? |
| Dr Devora Kestel, Director of Mental Health, WHO | Managing your mental health |
| WHO Interns Speak Out for UHC | Statement on Universal Health Coverage |
| UHC Partnership: What I will change… | Art meditation |
| Ms Joyce Haddad, Fitness Coach and Nutritionist | Interactive fitness activity |
| Mr Andreas Zagklis, Secretary-General, FIBA | Statement |
| Mr Sergio Lara, Coach, I Coach Kids | Interactive at-home basketball drills (Part I) |
| Dr Juanita Rasiah, JR Choreography | Interactive Bollywood dance session |
| Dr Alex Butchart, Violence Prevention Unit Head, WHO | Information on healthy parenting |
| World Heart Federation | Your heart and you: how to keep your heart happy and healthy |
| Ms Kasey Sallurday, Yoga Instructor | Interactive yoga session |
| Ms Michelle Mayes, Isha Hatha Yoga Instructor | Information on the health benefits of yoga, especially for woman who are pregnant |
| Ms Ann Tracy, Artist | Interactive art activity |
BLOCK 3: 13:45 - 14:45
| Who? | What? |
| Ms Serena Tumini, virUS Dance Studio | Interactive Hip Hop Dance session |
| HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, President, Union for International Cancer Control | Statement |
| Dr Etienne Krug, Director, Social Determinants of Health, WHO | Information on road safety and blueing the planet |
| Ms Amina Lanaya, Director-General, Union Cycliste Internationale | Statement |
| Liandi Gerber, Alex Malacarne, Tumelo Makae, and Akari Kobayashi, Athletes and Coaches, UCI World Cycling Centre | Interactive cycling exercises |
| Dr David Meddings, Scientist, Prevention of Child Injuries, WHO | Information on drowning prevention |
| Mr António Vitorino, Director-General, International Organization for Migration | Statement |
| Ms Rutendo Urenje, Dance Instructor | Interactive Zumba session |
| World Heart Federation | Making physical activity part of your routine |
BLOCK 4: 14:45 - 15:45
| Who? | What? |
| World Bowlers: Verity Crawley, Daria Pajak, and Aiko Itagaki | Interactive fitness activity |
| Mr Sergio Lara, Coach, I Coach Kids | Interactive at-home basketball drills (Part II) |
| WHO Department of Nutrition & Food Safety | Information on undernutrition and obesity |
| Ms Joyce Haddad, WHO Nutrition | Information on food safety |
| Ms Adrienne Bánhegyi, Cirque du Soleil and Skipping Rope World Champion | Interactive rope skipping activity |
| Dr Karen Reyes and Ms Soleil Labelle, WHO | Interactive fitness activities for persons in wheelchairs or with limited mobility |
| Rollettes (Los Angeles) | Interactive fitness activities for persons in wheelchairs or with limited mobility |
| Mr Arther Potts Dawson, Executive Chef, Omved | Cooking demonstration |
| Mr Thomas Bach, President, International Olympic Committee | Statement |
| Dr Alana Officer, Special Adviser on Ageing, WHO | Information on healthy ageing |
| Harmony | Your 5-minute sport routine |
| HUG Physiotherapy and Sports Trauma Team | Exercising with physiotherapists from the University of Geneva Hospitals |
BLOCK 5: 15:45 - 16:30
| Who? | What? |
| Mr Eric Saintrond, Director-General, FISU | Statement on healthy campuses |
| Ricky Kej, Grammy Award winner and Champion for hearing, World Hearing Forum | Safe listening concert and Interactive hearing test with hearWHO app |
| Ms Joyce Haddad, Fitness Coach and Nutritionist | Interactive fitness activity |
| Mr Sergio Lara, Coach, I Coach Kids | Interactive at-home basketball drills (Part III) |
| The Staff of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance | Statement |
| Rollettes (Los Angeles) | Dance demonstration |
| WHO on Tobacco Industry Tactics | Video on tobacco |
| Mr Juan Arbelaez, Executive Chef and Restaurateur | Cooking demonstration |
| Professor Didier Pittet, Director, Infection Control Programme, University Hospitals of Geneva | Statement |
| Healthworkers of the University Hospitals of Geneva | Photo montage of the response to COVID-19 in Geneva |
| Ms Elizabeth Iro, WHO Chief Nursing Officer | A tribute from WHO to health workers who have died responding to COVID-19 |
| WHO Infection Prevention and Control | Handwashing demonstration (COVID-19) with Dr Tedros |
| Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO | Closing statement from WHO |
Walk the Talk mascot
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