Thank you Prof. Demitri Constantinou for attending the Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity in Hamburg, Germany. He was invited to attend and presented as an invited speaker and also signed the declaration on behalf of the WITS Department, Exercise Is Medicine® SA, the South African Sports Medicine Association and the International Federation of Sports Medicine.
“Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 June 2025 | Hamburg, Germany
Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity Signs 2025 Hamburg Declaration
Medicine Experts and Partner Organisations Launch Worldwide Implementation Drive
The 2025 Hamburg Declaration on Sport, Health and Human Performance was formally signed today during Global Alliance Day at the International Sport & Exercise Medicine Summit in Hamburg. The Declaration brings together a powerful coalition of sports medicine, public health, academic, athlete-representation, and policy organisations in a shared commitment to safeguard health, promote inclusivity, and support sustainable human performance across all levels of sport and physical activity.
Implementation will be supported by the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) in close collaboration with all partner organisations that have endorsed the Declaration through the Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity.
“The Hamburg Declaration moves from paper to practice today,” said Professor Uğur Erdener, President of SportAccord, the umbrella organisation for international sports federations across both Olympic and non-Olympic sports. “The Global Alliance Steering Committee, supported by an international advisory board, will oversee implementation. However, lasting success depends on the collective commitment of all partners—each contributing their unique expertise, reach, and responsibility.”
“FIMS is proud to serve as the global sustaining body for the Hamburg Declaration’s implementation,” said Professor Fabio Pigozzi, President of FIMS. “This is a defining moment for sports medicine and global health. Together with our partners, we are ready to translate this Declaration into concrete, science-based actions that will benefit athletes and active individuals of all ages and abilities.”
“We are now failing on all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of global targets addressing key challenges such as health, poverty, education, and climate,” said Professor Yannis Pitsiladis, Chair of the FIMS Scientific Commission. “According to the recent Global Sustainable Development Congress in Istanbul, only 17% of SDG targets are currently on track. As Phil Baty remarked at that event, what we now need is ‘angry optimism’, a fierce determination to close the gap between scientific knowledge and policy implementation. FIMS and its partners are committed to turning this frustration into action.”
“Today’s signing represents years of work across disciplines and borders,” said Professor Jürgen Steinacker, Convener of Global Alliance Day in Hamburg and FIMS delegate on the Steering Committee. “This is not just another declaration, it marks the beginning of a global movement. We have brought science, sport, and society together in Hamburg to create an implementation mechanism that is inclusive, transparent, and accountable.”
“ACSM is proud to have been a partner of the Global Alliance from the beginning, and we stand committed to ensuring that this declaration is translated into actionable, science-driven steps to ensure the health and well-being of people worldwide. Using all the resources and expertise available to us, alongside that of our global partners, we will continue the vision to improve all lives through the power of movement,” said Dr. Carrie Jaworski, President of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Implementation Framework
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Four Continental Sports Medicine Associations and 117 National Sports Medicine Associations, representing 125,000 sports physicians in 117 countries, will serve as the medical backbone for the rollout.
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Academic institutions, athlete groups, public health agencies, NGOs, and sport governing bodies will embed the Declaration’s principles into their programmes, regulations, education systems, and research priorities, ensuring meaningful impact beyond clinical and elite sport environments.
Key Action Pillars
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Evidence-based policy and practice to protect and enhance the health of all participants
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Inclusive sport systems that champion equity, diversity, and accessibility
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Scientifically grounded performance models that balance excellence with long-term wellbeing
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Sustained global collaboration across sport, health, education, and public policy sectors
Recognised by leading international institutions, FIMS maintains active engagement with world sport and governmental bodies to ensure the Declaration’s implementation aligns with broader health, development, and sustainability agendas.
The Global Alliance Steering Committee will publish its first action roadmap in Q4 2025, setting the course for global, coordinated impact.
Contact
Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis
Email: ypitsiladis@hkbu.edu.hk
Prof. Juergen Steinacker
Email: jueregen.steinacker@uni-ulm.de
Resources (upon request)
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Full text of the 2025 Hamburg Declaration
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List of Global Alliance partner organisations and signatories
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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) overview: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Fotos
PANA9861: Attendees at the signature of the 2025 declaration
PANA9724: Signature of the 2025 declaration (from the left): Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis, Prof. Juergen Steinacker, Prof. Urgúr Erdener, Dr. Carrie Jaworski, Dr. Maher Zahar, Prof. Fabio Pigozzi
More Photos on request.“
