PHM-Exch> DECLARATION About THE SPONSORSHIP OF COCA COLA of THE 2018 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

[Claudio Schuftan]

The City of Buenos Aires will host the Youth Olympic Games in October 2018.
Considering Coca-Cola is one of the main sponsors of the event, the
undersigned organizations DECLARE that:



• _The consumption of unhealthy products with high levels of critical
nutrients, such as added sugar, is one of the main risk factors for chronic
non communicable diseases (NCDs) and that NCDs are the leading cause of
death in the world and in Argentina.

• _The consumption of added sugar estimated in our country is about three
times the maximum that the World Health Organization recommends not to
exceed. Argentina is among the 5 countries with the highest added sugar
consumption in the world.

• _In our country, the Global school-based student health survey (2012)
estimated that overweight among adolescents between 13 and 15 years old was
28.6% (overweight 22.7% and obesity 5.9%). Adolescents with the lowest
socioeconomic status are 31% more likely to be overweight than adolescents
of the highest socioeconomic level.

• _One of the main sources of consumption of added sugar is the consumption
of sugary drinks and Argentina is the first consumer of soft drinks in the
world, with 137 liters per capita per year. These drinks are one of the
main factors that promote weight gain, obesity and tooth decay development.

• _Sweetened beverages, as well as other sources of sweeteners, also have a
potentially obesogenic effect according to current available evidence.

• _Marketing strategies, including the Sport Sponsorship by junk food
companies, are a further determinant of consumer choices. Children and
adolescents are vulnerable to this type of advertising.

• _The action of governments is crucial to protect children and adolescents
and to guarantee their right to health and to a healthy diets.

• _Soft drinks companies spend millions in advertising, promotion and
sponsorship of their products, to naturalize the consumption of an
unhealthy product that causes obesity and overweight, among other health
problems.

• _Measures to restrict sugary drinks advertising and promotion are
effective to protect the right to health and healthy eating of children and
adolescents.

• _In this sense, the Committee on the Rights of the Child advises States
to take measures to protect children from violations to their right to
health by third parties. This Committee makes special emphasis on
"Regulation of the advertising and sale of substances harmful to children’s
health and of the promotion of such items in places where children
congregate, as well as in media channels and publications that are accessed
by children, are recommended”.

• _Facilities and public places where children and adolescents spend time
should be free of advertising of foods and beverages high in sugar, salt
and fats.



By the expressed above, WE DEMAND that the Government of the City of Buenos
withdraw the sponsorship of the Coca Cola Company from the Youth Olympic
Games and take the necessary measures to restrict marketing of unhealthy
foods and beverages to children and adolescents.

*Signatory organizations *



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