Gerard Piqué joins FIFA campaign to promote physical activity

Gerard Piqué has joined the FIFA campaign #BeActive which promotes physical activity for those under strict lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Barça defender is taking part alongside Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid and other players from around the world in an initiative which is also supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations. 

The #BeActive campaign has been launched to coincide with International Day of Sport for Development and Peace from the United Nations. With the hashtag #HealthyAtHome, the campaign urges people to stay at home, today and every day, to be united in the fight against COVID-19. 

The WHO recommends healthy adults to take part in at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, 60 minutes for children. The campaign has the following recommendations as well as promoting any activity that promotes healthy habits at home: 

1. Online exercise classes
2. Dance
3. Interactive video games
4. Skipping
5. Strength and balance exercises

The campaign sees Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona asking fans to forget their teams' rivalries and be united in the fight against the coronavirus. Other clubs  set to be involved include  Club América, CD Guadalajara, Beijing Guoan FC, Shanghai Shenhua FC, Mohun Bagan AC, East Bengal FC, Melbourne City, Sydney FC, Auckland City FC, Team Wellington FC, CA River Plate, Olympique Marseille, TP Mazembe, CR Flamengo and SE Palmeiras.

As part of the campaign, some of the most well known players in the world are sharing the following message:  “At this time, even rivals need to stick together. We have to keep our distance, but we do not lose our focus. We can show solidarity by being active, and active means following the guidelines from the WHO.”

The video campaign will be published on FIFA's various digital channels and will be regularly updated by players and clubs in the coming days. 

WHO, the UN’s specialist health agency, and FIFA, football’s world governing body, work together to promote healthy lifestyles through football around the world and launched the “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign last month to share advice and effective measures to protect people from COVID-19.