Players to support HIV-AIDS campaign at ICC Twenty20

Cricket stars from across the world will support the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) partnership with UNAIDS and Unicef at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007, which takes place in South Africa from 11 to 24 September, to highlight the situation of children and young people living with and affected by HIV.


The partnership is also supported in South Africa from loveLife – South Africa’s national HIV prevention program for youth – to engage the youth audience.

Players including South Africa captain Graeme Smith, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and India’s Yuvraj Singh will feature in public service announcements for the ‘Unite for Children, Unite Against Aids’ campaign highlighting how HIV impacts on the lives of young people. This will be made available to broadcasters in 105 countries across the world as well as be watched by fans on the big screens at the 27 matches during the tournament.


Other stars will visit Unicef and loveLife community-based project activities in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to promote HIV and AIDS awareness to young people and encourage them to develop life-skills to keep them HIV-free. Select players are expected to wear red ribbons in selected matches to show their support for people living with HIV.

Apart from player-related activities, 500 volunteers working at the event have all received HIV and AIDS education from loveLife health trainers, supported by UNAIDS. There will also be advertising boards at the grounds dedicated to promoting the ‘Unite for Children, Unite Against Aids’ campaign.


The African Broadcast Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS – a coalition of more than 50 African broadcast companies – will also be supporting the partnership, promoting player visits and event activities related to the partnership.

Cricket is popular in many of the countries that are most impacted by AIDS, including India and South Africa. Together, these two countries are home to around 11 million of the 40 million people estimated to be living with HIV.