Soccer Jocks and HIV Prevention Campaigns

Of all the things I imagined writing about while I was here at the National Women’s Health Network, soccer wasn’t one of them.  There was a time when soccer was a big part of my life. Both my best friend and my brother played. Watching their games, especially my friend Josh’s as he was in high school, was always exciting and a little nerve wracking.

So what in the world does soccer have to do with women’s health?? Until recently, nothing at all that I was aware of, except that it was good physical exercise and provided great eye candy which contributes to emotional health!

As most of us know, the FIFA World Cup is about to begin in South Africa.  South Africa is a country that has been hit hard by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  1 in 5 South Africans are HIV positive, which adds up to about 5.7 million infected individuals.  With the eyes of the world about to turn to South Africa and FIFA, you’d think it would be a great opportunity to promote safe sex and HIV prevention. Not so much.

According to HIV/AIDS prevention activists, FIFA has hindered their awareness and prevention efforts.  The activists are being told they are not allowed to distribute free condoms and safe sex information materials at official game venues. How outrageous is that? 

Activists are also concerned with a distrubing trend that seems to have developed around mass sporting events-increased drinking and increases in prostitution.  This trend has been seen prior to the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games in Sydney and Athens, respectively, and before 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.  This poses a larger problem in South Africa because it is estimated that 1 in every 2 prostitutes working in South Africa are HIV postitive.  It is a dangerous situation that could spark a sharp increase in HIV infections.  

So what’s FIFA’s problem? Apparently, they have no problem.  In a statement released on Monday, FIFA already has a plan for awarness and prevention campaigns.  They also say that they have not blocked any efforts to prevent HIV counseling and testing, which is not what they are being called out on in the first place. 

Additionally, activist groups have claimed that FIFA is going to charge them exorbitant prices for broadcasting HIV/AIDS public service announcements and will be charging them for the right to distribute condoms at the World Cup sites.

Say it with me-that’s not right! FIFA should be embracing this opportunity to shine the light on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and gain itself good press in the process.  While popular around the world, professional soccer is not very popular in the United States; traditionally Americans don’t tend to pay a whole lot of attention to a sport that they don’t dominate or one the rest of the world may be in love with!  This is a golden opportunity to bring the attention of American audiences to FIFA and professional soccer. Instead they are mostly wasting it on bad press.  It’s really a shame.

Thankfully, the players do not share FIFA’s apparent lack of support for HIV/AIDS prevention.  Captains of some of the teams competing in the 2010 World Cup have signed the UNAIDS World Cup Appeal.  The appeal reads:

‘Between now and 2014, when the next World Cup is played in Brazil, together we can stop babies from becoming infected with HIV and keep their mothers alive and thriving. Hence we appeal: From Soweto to Rio de Janeiro, give AIDS the red card and prevent babies from becoming infected with HIV’.

The appeal was signed by the captains of the following teams: South Africa, Nigeria, France, Paraguay, Uruguay, Australia, Cote D’lvoire, Uruguay, Greece, and Serbia.  This shows a commitment to the cause and it shows leadership in an issue that devastates families daily and is not tackled with enough resources, especially in the United States.

This is my final blog for the National Women’s Health Network as an intern.  I have enjoyed my time at the Network and have learned so much about women’s health and about myself.  In a way, it seems fitting that I should come back to a sport that was (indirectly) a big part of my childhood and an issue that still effects millions around the world. It just goes to show that everything and everyone is connected through the issues we face as people on this planet.

I can hope that FIFA will see the light and take up the tourch of the HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.  If not, shame on them. I have faith that this will not stop the passionate activists from finding a way to distribute their prevention and awareness materials.

D’Laura Brumfield
NWHN Health Information Intern

Sources:
•UNAIDS (2010) ‘Ahead of World Cup, National Team Captains Appeal: “Give AIDS the Red Card”’. Retrieved from http://unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories

•MSNBC (2010) ‘FIFA Under Fire Over Safe-Sex Stance’. Retrieved http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/09/4485323-fifa-under-fire-....