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December 1st marks World AIDS Day. Dedicated to raising awareness of AIDS or Acute Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, caused by HIV, it was instituted by the World Health Organisation nearly 30 years ago to educate the public on the infection and spread of the disease, testing, avoidance and living with HIV.A lack of awareness around HIV/AIDS has led to a significant number of deaths worldwide – AIDS claims 2 million victims each year, with nearly 14% of those young children.Although being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence with stronger, more improved access to antiretroviral medication in the past few years, a lack of awareness and education around the disease has led to significant stigma for victims and sufferers.Several sportspersons, however, are global ambassadors for awareness; some of whom have battled HIV themselves.Here are 10 of the most famous sportspersons to have come out in support of HIV/AIDS awareness.
#10 Magic Johnson
Johnson’s is the first name that comes to mind when discussing HIV in the world of sport. An NBA and Lakers icon, Johnson is on several lists as the “Greatest of All Time.”
The Michigan native, born Earvin Johnson, who first took to the sport as a young child, first played ‘professionally’ as a high schooler, which is when he earned the name ‘Magic.’
Recruited by several US colleges to play varsity, Johnson made his NBA debut in 1979 as a rookie, and had one of the most successful careers in basketball before abruptly announcing his retirement in 1991 after revealing he had contracted HIV.
He immediately announced that he would leave his basketball career, and became an activist for HIV awareness. His announcement and work were praised by many, including then-US President George W Bush.
He returned to play for the US Olympic team, dubbed the ‘dream team’ in 2002, and used it as a stage to, as he put it, “inspire HIV-positive people.”
Johnson wrote a book on safe sex and its importance in addition to being one of the HIV awareness movement's most well-known faces, and founded the Magic Johnson Foundation in 1991, the same year he was diagnosed, with one of the foundation’s main focuses on HIV/AIDS.
The foundation provided free HIV/AIDS testing to more than 38,000 Americans across the country. Additionally, the program has educated nearly 280,000 people about HIV, risk factors associated with the disease and the importance of HIV testing, and Johnson is a principal part of the day-to-day workings of the foundation.
#9 Felipe Massa
The Brazilian F1 ace, who currently drives for British team Williams, was part of several AIDS awareness drives with his former team Sauber. With teammate Nick Heidfeld, Massa was part of a Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and both drivers’ cars carried slogans and ribbons for AIDS awareness.
The two drove the specially branded cars in 2002, running through the Grands Prix at Monza, Indianapolis and Suzuka.
#8 JP Duminy
Duminy and the South African cricket squad have worked together to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS in their home country, where it is a major issue. The batsman has taken an active role in promoting awareness, and visits high schools to talk to students about HIV and understanding how it spreads.
South African players talked to young fans about how HIV has affected the lives of millions of people in their home country. Star All-rounder JP Duminy said, “HIV is a serious issue for my country, but no matter where you are in the world, it’s important to get the facts about HIV. With cricket, we can use the spirit of cricket to help break down the stigma and discrimination around the disease.”
#7 Kumar Sangakkara
Retired cricketing icon Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka has been associated with UNAIDS for a number of years, and in 2011 Sangakkara made some very poignant statements following his team’s disastrous loss to the English side in a test series.
"Perspective is something you need when you play any sport," he told The Guardian, after meeting a group of people who live with HIV and who work as carers, administrators and activists. "It has been great to actually meet people rather than just talk into a camera about HIV and HIV awareness. To meet people who live with HIV and face challenges every day that we only talk about, that is something that really opens your eyes."
Known for his charity work, Sangakkara has said that the charity work has given him a fresh perspective on his life and career.
#6 Pau Gasol
Professional basketball player Pau Gasol of Spain has been passionate about two things since his youth, both of which continue to be part of his life. The Spaniard was 11-years-old when basketball legend Magic Johnson was revealed to be HIV-positive.
Gasol had long nursed dreams of being a doctor, and wanted to find the cure for AIDS. He even joined medical school, but dropped out as his basketball career advanced.
Made a UNICEF ambassador in 2003, Gasol was instrumental in raising awareness of the fight against AIDS. He visited Angola in 2007 to, according to an interview with the NBA, “..see firsthand the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS and UNICEF’s programs to support children and families affected by the disease.”
Gasol regularly visits the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, sitting in on surgeries wearing scrubs, and continues to focus on AIDS awareness.
#5 Greg Louganis
Louganis has won gold in diving at multiple Olympic games across disciplines, and is among the United States’ most decorated athletes. He has 4 gold medals and a silver at the Olympics, with a whopping 13 gold medals across several major worldwide events.
The diver, adopted as a toddler after his birth parents abandoned him, tested positive for HIV in 1988; at the age of 28. He revealed that he had suffered serious domestic abuse and had been raped, which led to a drinking problem. In his autobiography, he revealed both the diagnosis and brought attention to the disease.
Although Louganis is HIV positive, he does not have AIDS. He has raised both awareness and funds for research and education for the disease, something he continues to do to this day. He made a documentary this year called Breaking the Board, geared specifically at helping people understand HIV. In an interview earlier this year, Louganis said it was “..so important for people to understand, You’re not stupid: other people have made the same mistakes. And you’re not alone, because this could happen to an Olympic gold medalist, too! I’m not immune.”
He continues to be part of the movement to educate the youth on HIV.
#4 Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe was a pathbreaker in every sense of the word. He is widely considered one of the USA’s greatest ever tennis players, and broke some amazing records on the way.
The first ever African-American player to be part of the United States Davis Cup team, he remains one of only two black players in the history of the sport to have won Grand Slams – the other is France’s Yannick Noah. Ashe is still the only black male player to have taken the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.
Ashe had a difficult start to life; he lost his mother to pre-eclampsia and was raised with his brother by their father, a single parent. Forced as a child to play in a playground labelled “blacks only,” Ashe took to practicing on the ground’s tennis courts, quickly becoming proficient.
Fighting through serious, organised, institutionalised racism, Ashe put his humongous talent on full display, winning 3 Singles Grand Slams and two Doubles Slams among a host of several other titles.
At 45, Ashe had a major heart attack; cardiovascular disease ran in Ashe’s family, with both his mother and father known sufferers, and he began to be outspoken about the disease and its hereditary nature.
Nearly a decade later, Ashe suffered a paralytic attack, which was found to have been caused by toxoplasmosis – a disease commonly associated with HIV sufferers. Ashe was found to be HIV positive, having contracted the virus through blood transfusions during his heart surgery.
Forced to reveal the news after USA Today decided to do an expose, then founding the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, working to raise awareness about the virus and advocated sex education for the youth.
Two months before his death, he founded the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health to help address issues of inadequate health care delivery. He died from AIDS related pneumonia in 1993, but raised significant awareness for the cause in the meantime.
#3 David Beckham
Beckham, one of football's most well-known names worldwide even in non-football playing nations like the United States of America, has been known to be associated with UNICEF and has been a Goodwill Ambassador with the organisation for a decade now.
He first began working with the United Nations in 2001, however, when he was part of Manchester United, raising awareness of a campaign against child trafficking in Thailand.
The following year, Beckham pledged his support for the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ campaign and took part in a series of films to promote the campaign’s message, and with fashion designer wife Victoria raised funds for the cause.
In 2009, Beckham made a trip to South Africa, where HIV/AIDS is a major issue, and highlighted the progress being made on limiting the transmission of mother to child HIV.
#2 Michael Ballack
One of Germany’s most legendary football players, Michael Ballack was part of several winning campaigns for his clubs in the Bundesliga and the Premier League, leading the national side to the finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Although that final was goalless for the Germans, who lost to Brazil 0-2, Ballack was himself instrumental in his team reaching that stage. He remains one of the country’s top goal scorers.
In 2008, Ballack was appointed by UNAIDS as an ambassador for awareness of the disease. A goodwill ambassador the United Nations since 2006, Ballack is one of the most outspoken ambassadors for AIDS awareness in the world of sport. The former footballer is part of several public service campaigns geared at youth awareness for the disease, and highlights HIV education.
He filmed a campaign at his former club's home ground, Stamford Bridge, in 2009, highlighting the cause.
#1 Roger Federer
The most decorated tennis player in history and arguably the greatest one of all time, Roger Federer has long been associated with the United Nations and a lot of its charity work. Based out of Federer’s home country, Switzerland, the UN has worked closely with the ace for its tsunami relief programs, UNICEF and other causes.
Federer, who has been a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador since 2006, partnered with UNAIDS the following year to raise awareness of the disease.
That year, speaking to UN officials, Federer said he had personally seen people seriously affected by the stigma around HIV and AIDS, and that this spurred him on to work towards awareness. The Swiss ace’s mother is South African, and he said “I’ve seen kids in South Africa who’ve been affected and it’s a very big problem, especially in the poorer countries.”
“It’s important to break down discrimination and stigma. Many people always think ‘I can’t talk to this person’, but I think it’s very important to speak openly about it. Ask your parents, teachers and coaches,” the ace said.
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