On the eve of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, the World Health Organization, the Qatari Ministry of Public Health and FIFA launch a new digital app designed to help increase physical activity and improve the health and well-being of millions of young people
GenMove, Season1 is a gaming app that uses advanced motion tracking combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to give kids ages 8-15 a vigorous gaming experience. The games require a variety of different movements that develop different physical abilities and are suitable for children of all fitness levels.
The WHO recommends that all children and adolescents get an average of 60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per day, including activities that strengthen muscles and bones at least three times per week. However, more than 80% of adolescents do not comply with these recommendations and it is estimated that children and adolescents can spend more than 8 hours of their day awake being sedentary and inactive, a behavior associated with poor physical shape, weight gain and reduced sleep. The app is expected to spur many similar initiatives to get kids more active around the world.
“Regular physical activity has important lifelong benefits for physical and mental health, and is essential for the healthy development of children,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO is proud to launch the GenMove Season1 app with Qatar today. This kind of digital innovation can be a powerful tool to reach young people and get them moving, especially kids who don’t play sports regularly.”
The app is launched today by Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health of Qatar, at the Walk the Talk – Health for All Challenge which is being held for the first time in the country. The 3 and 5 kilometer walks are being organized to engage people of all ages and abilities, and to promote the benefits of physical activity.
“Qatar is proud to launch this important innovation for children on the eve of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™,” said Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari. “We are committed to doing everything we can to increase physical activity and improve the health of young people here in Qatar and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted young people so much, limiting physical education and school sports, so it is vital that we invest in promoting physical activity and take advantage of digital technologies to provide new and fun ways to be active.”
GenMove’s games are based on popular sports like soccer and involve actions like jumping, reaching and kicking to build children’s confidence and joy in moving. The games can be played inside or outside and it only takes a mobile phone or tablet (IOS or Android) and a small space for children to get active.
Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion and Brazil’s national gatekeeper, said: “I love GenMove. Technology opens up the world to everyone, but sometimes it can make you sit still for too long. So the GenMove platform helps you with that. At the same time, you can have fun with your kids, or by yourself, and do something healthy.”
“The cost of physical inactivity for public health systems is very high,” says Dr. Fiona Bull, head of the WHO Physical Activity Unit. “Therefore, making children enjoy being active and develop habits every day is essential to prevent future non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes and many types of cancer.”
GenMove is partnering with a soccer-themed companion FIFA campaign, “Bring the Moves,” which encourages young people to share their goal celebrations online and build a following of active youth during the World Cup.
Where to download the GenMove app
Families can download the GenMove Season 1 app here for free. It runs in real time using any phone or tablet (iOS or Android). Genmove Season 1 is currently available in English and will also be available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish starting November 19, 2022 .
The GenMove Season 1 initiative is led by WHO as part of the Healthy World Cup 2022: Legacy Initiative for Sport and Health, a partnership between WHO, FIFA and the State of Qatar (Ministry of Public Health) and the Qatar Supreme Committee for Handover and Bequest. The app has been developed as a partnership between the WHO and a world leading digital technology entrepreneur, G13R, with the aim of giving children around the world free access to Season 1 of the gaming app.
.
