The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Saturday.

The two organizations look to deepen their cooperation. Tedros opened the signature ceremony by highlighting the important role of sport in achieving the health target of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. 

The two organizations have been working together since 1984, leading numerous joint initiatives to promote physical activities for better health.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has prompted further cooperation.

Bach said, "the crisis has shown how important sport is to general health and how important general health is to combat the virus."

IOC president stressed the important economic, social and in particular, the health factors sport plays and promised to continue to make contributions to fight the COVID-19 crisis through sport and called for a more active society. 

"Sport is an extremely low-cost but, as we can see once again, highly effective tool for health," he said.

Bach also thanked the WHO for the "most valuable advice" they are receiving for many years but particularly starting this February with regards to the Tokyo Olympics.

Bach said he was proud that IOC can count on WHO's advice to make the historic efforts to "organize, for the first time in Olympic history, postponed Olympic Games in a safe environment for all participants."

With the postponed Tokyo Olympics one year and two months away, Bach said he is looking to the efforts to make the Tokyo Olympics "the light at the end of this dark tunnel."

Key Objectives of the IOC and WHO Memorandum of Understanding:

- Joint action to support communications and advocacy for health and physical activity;

- Align policy to strengthen support on NCD (noncommunicable diseases) prevention and healthier lifestyles through sport;

- Strengthen the health preparedness and legacy of the Olympic Games;

- Strengthen health promotion, policy and action through the Olympic Movement;

- Support and strengthen collaboration on NCD prevention and physical activity promotion between health and sports sectors.