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As part of international cricket’s partnership with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) and to coincide with World Aids Day on 1st December, red awareness ribbons were worn by all attendees at the European Coaching and Development Conference at Lord’s between 29th November and 3rd December. 

European Development Manager Richard Holdsworth commented “The Coaches from 19 ICC member countries on this course have been trained to deliver a session on Aids Awareness at all future coach education training courses in their countries.  This will hopefully increase the global awareness of the epidemic”.

Further initiatives from the European Region will see all players wearing red ribbons at European tournaments in the 2005 season and HIV/AIDS awareness literature will be distributed at the Region’s events.

This initiative was one of a number that took place to coincide with World Aids Day.  Regional events were co-ordinated through the ICC Development Program and in addition to the European Conference initiatives included the distribution of HIV/AIDS literature in the Africa Region, discussion on HIV/AIDS issues at a coaching seminar in Mexico, and local media initiatives to highlight the impact of HIV/AIDS in the East Asia-Pacific Region.

ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy said that the activities were part of the ICC Development Program’s on-going campaign to support HIV/AIDS awareness.  “The fight against HIV/AIDS is a global problem which affects every single country and it is important that the awareness of this epidemic is raised throughout the ICC’s membership base.”

World Aids Day is commemorated around the world on 1st December.  It celebrates progress made in the battle against the epidemic and brings into focus remaining challenges.

The red ribbons are a sign of solidarity with the millions of people around the world living with HIV/AIDS.

For more information visit www.unaids.org or the ICC’s HIV/AIDS related initiatives at www.icc-cricket.com