COME DECEMBER 1 and all leading international cricketers will be seen sporting red ribbons to mark World AIDS Day in their upcoming matches. An initiative of Think Wise partnership which is a joint initiative between the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNICEF and Global Media AIDS Initiative since 2003, the motive of the organisations is to raise awareness around HIV prevention and stop discrimination against people who are living with this disease.
On the initiative, South African captain Graeme Smith said that two million people die of AIDS-related deaths each year and nearly three-quarters of them come from sub-Saharan Africa. These are people who watch him play cricket on television, support him in the stadium and this makes it all seem very real to him. By wearing a red ribbon we are sending a message to the millions of fans across the world that you shouldn't discriminate against people living with HIV.
The red ribbon will be sported by players in different international matches which include three one day internationals between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, India and New Zealand and Sri Lanka and West Indies apart from the opening day of the Ashes test match between Australia and England.
On the initiative, Sri Lankan captain and Think Wise member Kumar Sangakkara said that many people living with HIV live in cricket-playing countries. It is something that you can’t escape, no matter where we play.
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