Distinguished colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening wherever you are joining us from.
It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the inauguration of the virtual global Hackathon on Ageing Better with ICTs, an event focused on innovating and building efficient ICTs solutions for assisting the older people within our communities.
Let me begin by thanking all our partners for their continuous support and advice in organising this hackathon. In particular, I would like to recognise our Supporting Partner, the Global Coalition on Aging, and our UN sister organisations for their trust and collaboration, especially on the WSIS Forum special track on ICTs and Older Persons, which will no doubt replicate its 2020 successes. And many thanks to our speakers today.
I am pleased that as a result of these good partnerships we have launched the virtual Hackathon, and have introduced our WSIS Healthy Ageing Innovation Award. This award will recognise WSIS stakeholders for their excellence in supporting innovative and sustainable solutions for the growing global population of older persons.
Over the past year, COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of having the necessary digital skills to continue working, studying, caring for others, and remaining connected with our loved ones. More than ever, older people are reliant on their ability to use digital technologies effectively.
The pandemic has challenged us all, but for this segment of the population the importance of connectivity has never been greater. The difficulties of securing COVID-19 vaccine appointments for example, or accessing online healthcare, show the obstacles facing older persons in a virtual world. For many in these age groups, digital technologies have been crucial in overcoming the isolation of these past months.
The Ageing Better with ICTs virtual hackathon is open to participants from around the world. It is a rare and valubale opportunity to gather teams from different age groups, different backgrounds, and different regions, to develop innovative ICT solutions that respond to the challenges faced by older persons.
Together we can ensure that all of us, no matter what age, can benefit from the positive impacts of ICTs on global development and connectivity.
I wish you a very successful hackathon and good luck to all participants! May the best team win!