Eurosport to support World Malaria Day 2019

The theme for World Malaria Day 2019 is ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’, and its aim is to empower individuals across the world to make a personal commitment to saving millions more lives, and help communities and economies to thrive by ending the fatal disease.

Malaria threatens half of the global population and kills one child every two minutes.

Sports stars from around the world will gather in Paris – the city selected to host World Malaria Day 2019 on the 25th of April – in the hope of engaging global leaders, civil society, the private sector, academic institutions and the general public to help eradicate the deadliest disease there has ever been.

David Beckham is lending his support and launched a ‘Malaria Must Die’ petition in a powerful video.

Paris will host a number of events on World Malaria Day 2019, including:

- A malaria awareness art installation in the centre of Paris – a graffitied malaria net

- A Football Tournament with participation from sports stars and the general public

- A publicity campaign around ‘Mosquitoes invading Paris’

- A Conference on progress and the issues in the fight against Malaria

Malaria is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. Since its establishment, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and the Global Fund have played critical roles in global progress against malaria, contributing to a 60% reduction in deaths due to malaria, an estimated 7 million lives saved and 1 billion cases prevented.

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, said:

"The city of Paris is proud to host this year's World Malaria Day. With more than 6 million euros spent each year, Paris is one of the principal local authority contributors to international aid, particularly in the areas of health, combating pandemics and sanitation.

“I hope that this day will enable us to raise awareness of the importance of this commitment among Parisians, as it fully reflects the solidarity of Paris.”