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[https://eurohealthnet.civisites.com/sites/default/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/Durham%20small%20logo.png] [https://eurohealthnet.civisites.com/sites/default/files/civicrm/persist/contribute/images/Logo2014EHN_Small(3).jpg] Czech Republic ‘could be knocked out’ of Euro 2016 before quarter finals TV and radio broadcast facilities available England would get knocked out in the quarter finals of UEFA Euro 2016 if the tournament was based on how healthy each nation is. Based on the health statistics, Switzerland would walk away as European Champions for the first time in the competition’s history, narrowly beating Iceland on penalties in the final. The Durham University analysis of life expectancy of men in the countries taking part in the football tournament shows huge health divides between the wealthy countries of Europe, and clearly demonstrates that where you live can kill you. The researchers are calling on governments across Europe to learn from each other and share best practice to narrow the gap. The inequalities in health across Europe can be examined through the concept of a European Health Championship which has been created by researchers from Durham University’s Centre for Health and Inequalities Research<https://www.dur.ac.uk/chir/> (CHIR) as an accessible way to shed light on these stark differences. From the round of 16 onwards, it scores each nation’s football team based on the country’s male life expectancy at birth for 2013. From these scores, the winners and losers of each group are decided as well as the results of the games in the knock out stages. Men in Switzerland and Iceland are on average expected to live up to the age of 81, but with female life expectancy slightly higher in Switzerland than in Iceland, Switzerland would secure a narrow victory in the final. England, with a male life expectancy of 79 years, would be winners of their group by beating Russia (63 years), Slovakia (72 years) and Wales (78 years), but losing to Iceland (81 years) in the quarter finals. Looking at wider health figures, the UK has the worst overall mortality rate and the highest prevalence of obesity in women amongst western European countries. The scores also reveal a clear east-west gap with worse health in eastern European countries compared to those in the west. For example, in Switzerland, as winners of group A, baby boys are expected to live up to 81 years old whilst in Ukraine, who finish bottom of group C, it is just 66. Closer to home, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a male life expectancy of 78 years, would get as far as the final round of 16 but miss out on the quarter finals. The underlying research on health inequalities is part of an international project led by Durham University, called HiNews<https://www.dur.ac.uk/hinews/>, which is aiming to find out why these inequalities persist in European countries and what can be done to reduce them. It also features in a new book by lead researcher, Professor Clare Bambra, called ‘Health divides: where you live can kill you’<http://policypress.co.uk/health-divides>, due to be published in August 2016. Clare Bambra<https://www.dur.ac.uk/chir/people/bambra/>, Professor of Public Health Geography and Director of the Centre for Health and Inequalities Research at Durham University, said: “What this analysis shows is that where you live can kill you but what is more important is that places can be changed for the better through the decisions made at local, regional and national level within countries. The factors influencing the health of people and places are politically determined. “States across Europe should learn from each other, invest in the geographical areas where it is most needed, and show commitment to tackling these ‘life and death’ inequalities. “I hope that by using football we can help to highlight these unacceptable differences in health, between European countries as well as those within them.” The underlying research on health inequalities is part of an international project led by Durham University, called HiNews<https://www.dur.ac.uk/hinews/>, which is aiming to find out why these inequalities persist in European countries and what can be done to reduce them. It also features in a new book by lead researcher, Professor Clare Bambra, called ‘Health divides: where you live can kill you’<http://policypress.co.uk/health-divides>, due to be published in August 2016. Caroline Costongs, Managing Director at EuroHealthNet, commented: “This European Health Championship clearly demonstrates that we can only win by protecting and promoting the health of all. In order to be competitive in football, or more generally in any endeavour in Europe, we need to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone and to not leave any people behind. “Strong and resilient teams do better and evidence tells us that investing in the reduction of inequalities pays off. EuroHealthNet, as the leading European Partnership in this area, is at centre field exchanging and supporting policies and actions to improve health, equity and wellbeing at EU level as well as within countries.“ Ends ________________________________ FURTHER INFORMATION About Clare Bambra Clare Bambra is Professor of Public Health Geography and Director of the Centre for Health and Inequalities Research (CHIR) at Durham University. Her research focuses on the health effects of labour markets, health and welfare systems, as well as the role of public policies to reduce health inequalities. You can follow her on Twitter @ProfBambra<https://twitter.com/ProfBambra>. European Health Championship P (Played) number of matches played W (Won) number of matches won D (Drawn) number of matches drawn L (Lost) number of matches lost F (For) “goals” scored – positive gap in life expectancy compared to opponents A (Against) “goals” conceded – negative gap in life expectancy compared to opponents GD (Goal Difference) Difference between F and A Pts (Points) 3 points per win, 1 per draw, 0 for a loss Data was taken from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). ________________________________ More information HiNews<https://www.dur.ac.uk/hinews/> is funded by New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE<http://www.norface.net/>) which is a partnership of European research councils including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC<http://www.esrc.ac.uk/>). ‘Health divides: where you live can kill you’,by Clare Bambra, will be published by Policy Press<http://policypress.co.uk/health-divides> on 30 August 2016<x-apple-data-detectors://2>. Review copies are available from [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> About Durham University * A world top 100 university with a global reputation and performance in research and education * Ranked 61 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2015/16 * Ranked 31 globally for the employability of its students by blue-chip companies world-wide (QS World University Rankings 2015/16) * Ranked 70 globally in the THE World University Rankings 2015/16 * In the global top 50 for Arts and Humanities (THE World University Rankings 2014/15) * A member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities * Research at Durham shapes local, national and international agendas, and directly informs the teaching of our students * In the 2016 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and the 2016 Complete University Guide, Durham was ranked fifth in the UK. About EuroHealthNet The HiNews project is part of EuroHealthNet’s Centre for Innovation, Research and Implementation for Health and Wellbeing (CIRI). For more information and images/figures about on the Health Championship, please see EuroHealthNet’s blog post here<http://eurohealthnet.eu/media/england-won%E2%80%99t-make-it-past-quarter-finals-euro-2016>. EuroHealthNet is a not-for-profit partnership of organisations, agencies and statutory bodies working to contribute to a healthier Europe by promoting health and health equity between and within European countries. EuroHealthNet achieves this through its partnership framework by supporting members’ work in EU and associated states through policy and project development, networking and communications. For more information, please visitwww.eurohealthnet.eu<http://www.eurohealthnet.eu/> or contact Caroline Costongs, Managing Director ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) Available infographics atwww.durham.ac.uk/chir/posts/eurohealth<http://www.durham.ac.uk/chir/posts/eurohealth> * European Health Championship – final round of 16 to final * Group results * Country health fact files