Partners in Cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have teamed up with UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 to highlight the situation of children and young people living with and affected by HIV.

The aim is to draw attention to the issues facing children and young people affected by HIV. The partnership is part of the ICC’s commitment to promoting the Spirit of Cricket and its positive impact on society.

Through high-profile activities around cricket’s biggest event, the ICC will support the Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS campaign launched in 2005 by UNICEF, UNAIDS and other partners.

Support for HIV-affected children

Players and officials from each team will wear the red and blue ribbon of the Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS campaign during their first games and during the final. Players will also visit programmes supporting children and young people affected by HIV.

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.

In the Caribbean, where the ICC Cricket World Cup is being held, UNAIDS estimated that 250,000 people were living with HIV in 2006, 15,000 of whom were children aged under the age of 15.