30 July 2024 – Today, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is proud to launch Team End Polio, a new campaign to unite fans everywhere around a common goal: to end polio for good.
With global attention turning to major sporting events in 2024, Team End Polio will bring together a world-class roster of athletes, global leaders, and advocates to raise awareness for polio eradication online and on the field.
Working together over the past three decades, the GPEI and countries around the world have made huge strides against polio—from driving cases down by 99.9% over the last four decades to preventing over 20 million cases of paralysis. Now, with ongoing support from donors and affected countries, we can eradicate this disease for good. But the home stretch is always the toughest.
As with any challenge, we are stronger when we work as a team. Team End Polio’s starting lineup includes athletes from across sports and countries, including some of the most celebrated names in recent sports history:
- Ade Adepitan, British Paralympian & polio survivor
- Ajara Nchout, Cameroonian professional footballer
- Anne Wafula Strike, Kenyan, British Paralympian & polio survivor
- Bismah Maroof, Pakistani National Women’s Cricket Team former captain
- Junior Bosila Banya, French professional breakdancer & polio survivor
- Michael Essien, Ghanaian international football legend
- Minda Dentler, American Ironman world champion & polio survivor
- Muhammad Ali, Pakistani National Cricket Team former bowler
- Ramesh Ferris, Canadian advocate & polio survivor
- Wasim Akram, Pakistani National Men’s Cricket Team former captain & cricket commentator
“No child today should live in fear of polio,” said British Paralympian and polio survivor Anne Wafula Strike. “I am thrilled to announce that I am part of Team End Polio because I believe that together, and only together, we can create a world free from this terrible disease for children everywhere.”
As Team End Polio grows this year, stay tuned for online and in-person activations at global sporting moments where athletes and advocates will call on supporters and leaders alike to unite behind the dream of a polio-free future.
Check out the team website at teamendpolio.org for the Team roster, Team news, and social media content that everyone can share to call out the urgent need to end polio for good.
Support Team End Polio and be part of the historic effort to make polio history.
