Promoting sport for health in the EU

The 2014 Eurobarometer survey on sport and physical activity highlighted persisting high (and slightly increasing) rates of physical inactivity in the EU, confirming the results of largely comparable surveys carried out in 2002 and 2009 (Rapid press release and memo 24/03/2014).

Lack of physical activity, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, has not only a significant impact on general health, but also considerable direct and indirect social and economic costs (due to health expenses, sick leave, etc.). According to a recent study, inactivity costs over EUR 80 billion per year to the EU-28.

In response to this challenge, the European Commission has launched an annual European Week of Sport to encourage more Europeans to engage in sport and physical activity (press release 11/06/2014). The idea for this initiative originated in the 2011 EP report on the European dimension in sport which recommended the establishing of an annual European large-scale event to raise awareness about the role and benefits of sport and physical activity.

The first edition of the European Week of Sport is taking place from 7 to 13 September 2015. It is an EU-wide initiative, led by the European Commission and implemented at EU, national, regional and local levels, with the help of national coordinators and in partnership with sports organisations and stakeholders.

Written by Anne Vernet.

ESO: Background information: EU sport policy: An overview http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-sport-policy-an-overview/

---