BIREME Bulletin nº 89

Paris 2024 Olympic Games – BIREME: sports equals health

The 2024 Olympic Games are motivating the promotion of staff health at BIREME/PAHO/WHO, which is celebrating the world event with great enthusiasm. During the two-week competitions in Paris, collaborators will connect with sports, appreciating their importance for the promotion and protection of public health at all levels, from individual to community and global health. Check out the activities which also aim to promote integration and strengthen the organizational culture.

Celebrating diversity and sportsmanship

The Olympic Games are a celebration of diversity, sportsmanship, and union between nations. Inspired by these values, BIREME is planning a series of activities that will allow all staff to experience the excitement of the Games and strengthen the bonds of companionship and collaboration. The program takes place during the period of the Games, between July 26 and August 11, 2024.

Paris-BIREME connection: planned activities

As a means of institutionalizing actions in the context of the 2024 Olympic Games, BIREME’s Administration motivated the organization of an internal group called the “Olympic Committee”, with representatives from each of the Centre’s teams, to support the definition of activities of common interest and contribute to strengthening the organizational climate, stated Silvia de Valentin, Administrator.

The following are the consensus actions planned and under implementation:

Internal tournaments: Internal “quasi-sports” competitions, encouraging all employees to take part. There will be three teams competing in the following disciplines: memory game, information and trivia quiz, and a token betting pool.

Motivational decoration: Amateur athletes have been invited to bring their medals and trophies to decorate the office. Our display is multi-sport and includes categories such as: CrossFit, running, cycling, tennis and Olympic gymnastics.

Photographs: The request for photographs of people playing sports is one of the actions with the most engagement so far. And more photos are coming in. BIREME Director João Paulo Souza was the first to send in a photo, encouraging everyone to take part: “Excellent initiative. I’m going to upload a photo of me practicing my favorite sport, running! Running, the mother of all sports, and a source of health and well-being, both physical and mental!”. We were also pleased to receive a photo of the Director of the EIH Department, to which BIREME is affiliated, Dr. Sebastián Garcia Saisó, in a soccer match with his colleagues. “Let’s do more sport!” he celebrated.

Training and Health Sessions: Two Olympic Games-themed work gymnastics sessions are scheduled, with stretching and other physical exercises, reinforcing our commitment to our health.

These initiatives not only celebrate Olympic values, but also promote a healthier, more collaborative and motivating work environment. Participating in Olympic activities reinforces a sense of belonging and engagement among employees, positively impacting the organizational climate.

We would like to thank all our employees for their proactive involvement in these activities, celebrating together the Olympic spirit and sports. We hope that uniting around this global event will contribute to a more harmonious and productive working environment, reflecting the values we stand for as an institution.

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