World Active Summit accepts Charter and Elects Council

This week’s inaugural in person meeting of World Active, the first ever global federation for the exercise, fitness and physical activity industry, has seen almost 50 national federation representatives from five continents come together in the German city of Cologne.

Held on Thursday (13th April) during the FIBO Global Fitness fair, the first World Active General Assembly saw participants agree on a charter and elect the World Active Council, which will lead the global platform towards it next phase - the launch of the World Active Federation.

Under the provisions of the World Active Charter, approved by the founding members, World Active’s guiding principle is to have an independent platform where each stakeholder has equal weight and rights, leading to equal representation of all continents.

It also invites other health and fitness associations and professional registers to join World Active.

The main event of the platform, the World Active Summit, will commence in Europe and rotate annually through the continents. It will bring together stakeholders from around the globe to discuss common opportunities and challenges facing the industry, speak with one voice, and promote health and well-being worldwide through collaboration and innovation.

As Fiona Bull, World Health Organization (WHO) Europe representative, stated during the summit opening “we fully support development of World Active and look forward to working collaboratively to get more people, more active, more often by implementing strategies that underline the Global action plan on physical activity.

AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish, the elected World Active Chair, spoke on behalf of all involved, describing this first physical meeting of the founding members as a historic event for the fitness industry.

Now ready to become a partner of the WHO and other world organisations, with a mission to improve the health of the entire population.

To achieve these goals, Elvish will work closely with Amy Boone Thompson, World Active’s Vice-Chair, and Sean Tan, the platform’s Treasurer.

The World Active Council elections are based on the provisions of the World Active Charter, the main constitutive document transparently approved by the founding members. The Council is composed of Wilson Onyango (African Register of Exercise Professionals) representing Africa; Samir Kapoor (India Active) and Tan (Singapore Fitness Alliance), representing Asia; Monica Marques (ACAD Brazil), representing Central and Latin America; Andreas Paulsen (EuropeActive), representing Europe; Thompson (IDEA Health & Fitness Association), representing North America; and Elvish (AUSactive), representing Oceania.

In line with the guiding principle of having an independent platform where each stakeholder has equal weight and rights, this leads to equal representation of all continents and opens the door for organisations from the sector to join World Active.

For more information go to www.world-active.com

Image: Attendees at this week's inaugural in person meeting of World Active in the German city of Cologne.