Weekly health and fitness agenda: Mandela Day, AIDS 2010

This week the 18th International AIDS Conference opens in Vienna on July 18, and Mandela Day is celebrated around the world. Plus the world's fittest compete in the CrossFit Games 2010, a World Championship on July 16.

CrossFit Games Finals 2010 (World Championship)

July 16-18
Home Depot Center (home of the LA Galaxy soccer team), Carson, California, USA

This CrossFit Games event is the final competition in a series where the world's fittest, who have triumphed in regionals and sectionals around the world including in Iceland and Australia to make it to the finals, come together to try to win their section (male, female, over 50, teams) and get the $25,000 (€19,755) prize. The twist is that none of the athletes competing have any clue as to what workouts they will have to endure over the three-day event. CrossFit is about metabolic conditioning and the workouts are used by various militaries. If you want to see the games live, tickets are sale for $75 (€59) via TicketMaster. http://games2010.crossfit.com

Mandela Day
July 18
Worldwide

July 18 is Mandela Day, an international day recognized by the United Nations in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela's birthday where he celebrates by asking everyone to help make the world better, healthier and just. This year he is asking for you to set aside 67 minutes to do something healthy and offers a list of ideas. Celebrations will take place all over the world and Madrid will hold their first Mandela Day fest in October. http://www.nelsonmandela.org/mandeladay/67_ways.html


iVillage's ‘Get Healthy Now' Community Challenge ends
July 18
Online

Before July 18, you and your family can commit to getting healthy now by signing up for four weeks of free daily assignments to support a healthy lifestyle with tips to eat better and get active. The challenge encourages people everywhere to live in a more healthy fashion with expert advice from Tanya Benenson, MD, medical director for NBC, Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, diet and nutrition editor for US morning TV show  Today and Mel B, former Spice Girl, international fitness advocate and host of  Dance Your Ass Off'. To join the challenge, sign up for free at: 
http://challenges.ivillage.com/health-week

XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010)
July 18-23
Vienna, Austria

"Right Here, Right Now " is the theme for this year's high-level meeting to hold world leaders and donors accountable as the 2010 deadline approaches for ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Also, greater attention will be on the rapid growth of the epidemic in Central and Eastern Europe via injection drugs as well as more focus on human rights and care for vulnerable populations. Former US president Bill Clinton, South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé are just a few of the speakers. AIDS 2010 is seeking volunteers - for more info consult the website.
http://www.aids2010.org


Wanderlust
July 29-August 1
Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, California, USA

The second annual festival held at the peaks of Squaw Valley is all about yoga, music and nature. This year it is expected to draw over 5,000 yogi partiers. Days are for downward dog with 40+ yoga instructors including the Village Anusara with YogaSlackers, a play lounge, hoop dance and meditation. At night, dance and party watching live musical acts including Moby, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar and much more. If you are unable to make it there, Adidas will be posting 'daily asana' clips. A full pass, called 'Sage' costs $450 (€356), and day passes (or 'Pilgrims') range from $90-140 (€71-111) depending on the day. http://www.wanderlustfestival.com


World Breastfeeding Week
August 1-7
Worldwide

World Breastfeeding Week takes place in over 120 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It was begun 20 years ago by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_breastfeeding_week/en/index.html

IDEA World Fitness Convention
August 4-8
Los Angeles Convention Center, LA, California, USA

The 26th annual IDEA World Fitness Convention is the largest and oldest trade event for fitness professionals. Over 5,000 influential fitness and wellness professionals from 65 nations will participate in 350 sessions devoted to new fitness trends (Bollywood Step, Alphabics, Kranking) with highlight events including celebrity Mario Lopez, tennis star Andre Agassi and the US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD. After this event, fitness centers globally will be introducing new classes, techniques and products -like workouts using Kangoo Jumps.
http://www.ideafit.com/conference/idea-world-fitness-convention-2010  

6th Annual Gluten Free Expo
August 6-7
Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, Australia

The two-day event is devoted to gluten-free products and sessions on the science behind gluten intolerance, cooking-without-gluten classes and tips to create a healthy gluten-free diet. The 6th annual Gluten Free Expo is free and hosted by The Coeliac Society of NSW Inc and The Clever Event Company. The natural, ready-to-eat Indian and Thai food company Tasty Bite is sponsoring the stage events and exhibitors are expected to launch new products.
http://www.glutenfreeexpo.com.au

ICMCM 2010
August 12-16
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, China

The second annual International Conference & Exhibition of Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM 2010) is open to the trade August 12-14 and the public August 14-16 to check out and purchase Chinese medicine and international health products. The professional section is devoted to "Research & Application" and will address latest developments, quality control, sustainable development, and digitalization of Chinese medicine. The event is free and requires pre-registration.  ICMCM is collated with the HKTDC Food Expo and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair.
http://www.hktdc.com/icmcm


World Humanitarian Day
August 19
Worldwide

The first World Humanitarian Day was celebrated in 2009 and is a day to honor aid workers, shed light on populations that need humanitarian aid and find ways to give back to your community or international humanitarian aid organizations.
http://ochaonline.un.org/news/worldhumanitarianday/tabid/5677/language/en-us/default.aspx

HoopBody launches
August 20

American actress Marisa Tomei is launching her HoopBody fit kit ($39.98/€32.60), a weighted 40-inch hoop with three workouts on a 90-minute DVD, produced with the green healthy lifestyle brand Gaiam on August 20.

Zumba Instructor Convention
August 26-29
Orlando, Florida, USA

Zumba, a global fitness craze that combines a variety of dance and cardio elements, is holding its biggest members-only party to help fitness professionals share new Zumba techniques (Aqua Zumba, Zumba Toning and Zumbatomic) , fashion, foods and music. The four-day festival is described as a "Zumba playground" with over 3500 Zumba network professionals in attendance.
http://convention.zumba.com

Daffodil Day
August 27
Australia, Canada

A day, created by the Canadian Cancer Society nearly 30 years ago, to honor those who have been touched by cancer. On August 27, the profits from fresh daffodils purchased at select locations will be used to support cancer patients, research and education. To get involved or donate: http://www.daffodilday.com.au

African Traditional Medicine Day
August 31
Africa

Many common medicines are derived from traditional therapies and on August 31, during the 9th annual African Traditional Medicine Day instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO), health professionals will come together to further the research and development, advocacy and safety of traditional medicines.
http://www.who.int