In this blog, Heidi Pekkola, Sports Policy Director for the European Non-Governmental Sport Organisation, outlines some of the activites going on in Brussels during the European Week of Sport.
The first ever European Week of Sport (EWoS) is just about to start.
Taking place from 7th to 13th of September, the main aim of the Week is to get Europeans physically active. The week places a particular focus on grassroots initiatives, with the idea being that promoting local opportunities to get active will inspire Europeans to #BeActive on a consistent basis and to exercise more.
A core reason behind the EWoS is 59% of Europeans never or seldom exercise or play sport (Eurobarometer). It’s a statistic which needs addressing as the impact on quality of life and burden on health resources is significant.
Here in Brussels the Week will be opened on Monday 7th of September by Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. Ex-Ajax, AC Milan and Real Madrid star, Clarence Seedorf, one of the ten Ambassadors of the Week, will be also present in the opening event.
Part of the opening event will see the opening of the European Sport Village, with different sports, activities and stands in the heart of Brussels. The sports and activities available in the Village will be open and available for people to try out for free for the whole Week.
On Wednesday 9th of September, the Commission have organised a flagship event that includes four workshops, one of which is around the role that sport clubs can play in building inclusive communities. There will also be a seminar about "The role of sport in promoting tolerance and open societies in Europe". This flagship event culminates in an Awards ceremony, which showcases some of the best grassroots initiatives that address and work on building social inclusion through sport.
The reason the Commission chose to focus on the societal role of sport in their flagship event was in response to the terror attack in Paris and Copenhagen. It is vital that in socially tense times, more is done to promote activities that bring people and communities together and sport is one of best ways to achieve this.
The other days of the Week also have a specific focus: education and environment, workplace, outdoor recreation being addressed during the week, while sport clubs and fitness centres will be the focus during the weekend.
During these days some partner organisations of the Commission, like ENGSO, will organise events in Brussels. ENGSO’s annual Forum will take place on Friday and Saturday with the topic of the "Role of Sport Clubs in Changing Societies in the Future" to be discussed. As part of the Forum, the delegates will also be encouraged to #BeActive and will try their hand at different sports at the Sport Village.
To ensure a wider impact around the Europe, Commission is supporting the EU Member States through the Erasmus+ Programme to organise different activities in respective countries. Each country has a national co-ordinating body which is responsible for organising the national activities.
The first ever European Week of Sport is definitely a priority for the Commission in 2015 and the Sport Unit is putting in a great deal of effort to make it a success. The aim and purpose of the Week is very important as is the fact that it has a wider societal aspect. However, the first edition has always its challenges, and it remains to be seen how big the overall impact of the Week will be. Will it get the Europeans to #BeActive?
