ICC to dedicate Champions Trophy final to HIV awareness campaign

The final of the ICC Champions Trophy will be dedicated to the highly successful HIV awareness campaign THINK WISE, a partnership between ICC, UNAIDS and UNICEF.

UNAIDS deputy executive director Jan Beagle will attend the final between England and India at Edgbaston Sunday. She will join International Cricket Council (ICC) president Alan Isaac, chairman of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Giles Clarke, and two representatives of people living with HIV, will walk out with the teams for the national anthems in solidarity of people around the globe living with HIV.

Over the past decade, the ICC has been promoting awareness for the AIDS epidemic, which led to the creation of the THINK WISE partnership in 2009.

During the final, both the finalists, as well as match officials, ICC and ECB staff will wear red ribbons to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding people living with HIV.

Beagle congratulated the ICC on its commitment to AIDS awareness.

"I am moved to see the incredible dedication of the ICC and cricketers to promoting HIV prevention and reaching zero discrimination for people living with HIV. For a decade, UNAIDS and the ICC have been using cricket as an effective avenue to convey lifesaving messages and reach large numbers of people on key issues around AIDS."

Isaac said: "I would like to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Beagle and it brings me great pleasure that the ICC's partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF is flourishing."