"As WHO Ambassador, I will do everything I can to smash this frightening disease off the planet," said Hingis. "I think all children should have the chance to be active, to use their legs to run around the playground, to swim, kick a ball, or play tennis," she said at a press conference on the opening day of the Ericsson Open, a world-class tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, United States.

"Match Point Against Polio" will promote polio eradication and encourage large public support and participation throughout the year, particularly at the Grand Slam tennis tournaments. These include the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. As part of her campaign, Ms Hingis will travel to a polio-endemic country where she will help immunize children against the disease.

The international polio eradication effort, launched in 1988, is spearheaded by WHO, Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Its ultimate aim is to certify the world as polio-free by the end of 2005. Owing to substantial progress towards eradication, polio is now concentrated in 30 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Before the press conference, Ms Hingis was joined by 30 children, each one representing the 30 remaining polio-endemic countries. She lobbed signed tennis balls out to the 2000 children in the audience, who were attending the Ericsson Open's "Kids Day."

"Ms Hingis is a world champion. Her enthusiasm, determination and commitment to achieve perfection are the qualities which will bring success in polio eradication. She will make a difference in this worldwide effort," said Dr Ciro de Quadros at the press conference. Dr de Quadros is Director, Division of Vaccines and Immunization, Pan American Health Organization, WHO's Regional Office for the Americas. He was at the forefront of successfully eradicating polio from the Americas.

The last case of polio was found in the Americas in 1991, following a massive campaign involving international organizations, national and local governments, citizens, sports clubs, educators, local health workers and countless volunteers. The region was certified polio-free in 1994.

"Success against polio in the Americas indicates the disease can be eradicated worldwide, " said Dr de Quadros. "WHO's European region has been polio-free for over one year. We are on the verge of polio-free certification in the Western Pacific region which includes China, whose population exceeds one billion. Now, we are increasing the momentum to wipe polio out of Africa and the Indian sub-continent," he reported.

Major partners in the Polio Eradication Initiative include technical agencies (e.g. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); private foundations (e.g. United Nations Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation); development banks (e.g. World Bank); donor governments (e.g. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and USA), and corporate partners (e.g. De Beers and Aventis Pasteur). WHO Homepage