European Week of Sport, what's going on in Blighty?

With the European Week of Sport taking place next week, Rachel Frazer, Media Manager at the Alliance, takes a look at what's going on in the UK.

The European Week of Sport is an initiative developed by the European Commission and is being celebrated across Europe next week.

The Week, which is celebrated in 31 countries across Europe, will inspire Europeans to #BeActive on a regular basis and create opportunities in people’s everyday lives to exercise more.

Sport and physical activity contribute substantially to the wellbeing of European citizens. However, the level of physical activity is currently stagnating and even declining in some countries.

According to a Eurobarometer survey, currently 42 per cent of Europeans never exercise or partake in sport, an increase on the 39 per cent of citizens who didn't four years ago, with 30 per cent never taking part in any physical activities. Clearly this is a statstic that needs addressing.

The week will bring together different experiences and initiatives to try and help reverse the trend. It does not intend to focus only on creating awareness about the dangers of physical inactivity, it will hopefully constitute an opportunity for everybody to work out and engage in physical activity, as well as inspiring and encouraging people to get off their couches, and get people to move.

It has been recognised that to be successful, the European Week of Sport will need to actively involve member states, local authorities and sport stakeholders, from federations to grassroots levels.

It is also intended to be a fully inclusive event, with opportunities for everybody to get active regardless of age, ability, resources to get out and get active at organised events. 

The week is going to be structured around four Focus Days, i.e. Education environment, Workplaces, Outdoors, Clubs & Fitness centres. A wide range of initiatives and activities have been organised around these settings at different levels (EU, national, local and regional level). In the UK some of the events taking place include:

• Through London Sport, England is hosting its flagship event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 12 September. The free #BeActive Festival will run from 10am until 4pm and will be a family friendly day where anyone can come along and try out some new activities.
   
• England Handball is holding a training/taster session: Open to everyone who is interested in giving handball a try.
   
• British Gymnastics 1000 Cities Gymnastics Flash Mob’ all over Europe on Saturday 12th September at 12:00 CET. As part of their Flash Mob, UEG are offering a prize for the most original video of you training or performing the Flash Mob. Using the hashtag #BEACTIVE.

It will be interesting to see how the activities through the week pan out, but it great to see a EU-wide campaign to encourage and increase physical activity come to fruition.

For more information, and see what what activities are going on around your area click here.

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