Sport - Cricket   

BCCI pads up to fight AIDS

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI Sept. 18. Indian cricket moved on to the front foot to help worldwide efforts to fight the AIDS epidemic.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) became the first national cricket body to join an effort between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to take up the fight in cricket playing countries.

According to ICC president Ehsan Mani, one of the first decisions is to put up bats signed by 2003 World Cup teams for auction online, with proceeds going to respective cricket-playing nations.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, explaining the reason behind the Board's proactive stance, said, "AIDS is a worldwide problem, especially in our sub-continent. If you have to make people aware of the seriousness of the problem, the best way to do it is through a medium which is the passion of the people.''

He observed, "cricket is a passion in India, so when Ehsan Mani (ICC president) brought up this topic, the BCCI immediately agreed because Indian cricket and cricketers can do a lot of work to spread the message of AIDS prevention.''

Cricket's world body has formed a `Run Out AIDS' project, announced Mr. Mani, a decision praised by UNAIDS Geneva communications adviser Mahesh Mahalingam, who pointed out that HIV/AIDS prevention, like running a batsman out in a cricket match, will need a team effort to make a difference.

He also appreciated ICC's prompt response in putting up signed bats for auction, announcing that proceeds of the first bat auctioned online will go to India. The ICC-UN partnership aims at using the game to raise public awareness of the epidemic in the cricket-playing world.

Mr. Mahalingam highlighted the seriousness of the problem pointing out that 12 million plus HIV/AIDS people live in cricket playing countries, out of an estimated 42 million affected worldwide.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Entertainment | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

Cricket

• Masterly knock by Tendulkar
• 16-team format for World Cup?
• Tendulkar joins 17,000-club
• I am recovering well: Nehra
• Govt. has to decide India-Pak. series: Dalmiya
• Vishwanath to be inducted into Hall of Fame
• BCCI pads up to fight AIDS
  
  Tennis
  
• In a hero's shadow, Prakash and Bopanna have a lot to prove
  
  Football
  
• Iran too hot for Bangladesh
  
  Asian Games
  
• Pakistan to host SAF Games
  
  Chess
  
• Pilloo Mody international rating tourney from today
  
  Swimming
  
• Shikha rewrites National mark
  
  

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu