Valéry de Falbaire

MRI

Role

Podiatrist & Young Sport Ambassador

Through the IOC’s Young Change-Makers+ programme, Valéry de Falbaire is making a difference in people’s lives. He runs a programme in Mauritius that tackles the high levels of diabetes and obesity in Mauritius through sports activities.

De Falbaire grew up with sport and had a career in swimming and triathlon for about 15 years. His main athletic achievements include winning silver and bronze medals at the Indian Ocean Island Games in 2011.

In 2014, he was elected by the Mauritius National Olympic Committee as a Young Change-Maker and started his project, called AgeingWell.

AgeingWell aims to reduce obesity and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by offering free sports activities to the citizens of Mauritius. At the beginning of the programme, participants receive advice from a nutritionist, and before and after each of their 24 sessions, they are evaluated on the following items: weight, waist measurement, fitness test, mental health and nutrition habits. After the initial 24 sessions, participants have an average weight loss of 4 kilograms. Once they reach a normal body mass index (BMI), participants are encouraged to continue on their own and apply what they have learned so the project can take on new participants.

Olympism is a philosophy of life that places sport at the service of humanity, and for De Falbaire, AgeingWell is one of the projects that truly helps to build a better world through sport.

The speakers

Using the unique power of sport to bring people together, the Olympism in Action Forum saw a range of global players, including Olympic Movement stakeholders, athletes, private and public sector leaders, NGO representatives, academics, artists and the media come together to talk on topical contemporary issues. Chosen because of their ability to effect change and their wide range of sometimes differing opinions, the speakers led lively debates and seeked to challenge received wisdom to inspire new ways of thinking.