ASEAN football players’ #FiveSteps to tackle coronavirus

JAKARTA, 5 October 2020 – Today, ASEAN and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) launched the #FiveSteps campaign. #FiveSteps is the second video campaign in a series of videos supporting ASEAN-FIFA’s joint awareness campaign to promote healthy and active lifestyles amidst COVID-19.

The football industry and its stakeholders have not been spared from the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through #FiveSteps, ASEAN and FIFA provide practical tips for citizens to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the pandemic and express hope for the region to overcome these challenging times.

“We, the people of ASEAN need determination, discipline, and teamwork to beat the coronavirus and stay healthy, today, tomorrow, and always. […] Together, ASEAN will win this difficult match,” is one of the key messages of the video.

The joint campaign’s first video #BeActive was launched on 23 July. The campaign contributes to the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports 2016-2020, particularly in promoting healthy and active lifestyles, and engaging sports ambassadors to encourage the growth of the sports sector in the region.

FIFA produced the videos in coordination with its member associations and the ASEAN Secretariat, and consulted with ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS) and the World Health Organization in developing the key messages. SOMS is a regional body consisting of national agencies responsible for sports.

The #FiveSteps campaign video comes in two versions, each featuring five ASEAN football personalities delivering messages in their national languages.

The campaign encourages ASEAN citizens to follow five key steps of sanitation and hygiene to tackle the Coronavirus. These five steps include; (i) frequent hand washing or hand-sanitising using alcohol-based sanitisers, (ii) covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, (iii) refrain from face touching, (iv) keeping a distance of at least one meter from other people, and (v) staying home when feeling unwell.

These messages are reiterated by the football players to support ASEAN Member States’ infection control measures and help prevent the spread of the virus.

This joint campaign is the first collaborative activity implemented by ASEAN and FIFA since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the 35^th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2019. ASEAN, through the SOMS and FIFA, is in the process of developing a two-year Collaboration Plan to operationalise the MOU.

The #FiveSteps videos are available on the social media channels of the ASEAN Secretariat, FIFA, ASEAN Member States, and ASEAN national football associations.

Source: ASEAN Secretariat