Physical activity is a prerequisite for both physical and mental health. Access to safe and attractive public spaces for activity and the opportunity to enjoy quality recreation are vital to the health and personal development of all individuals. There are numerous barriers to individuals participating in physical activity. These include community, school, work and transport environments that are not conducive to incidental physical activity in daily life, high user fees, a lack of awareness of opportunities, transportation, time constraints, personal preferences, cultural and language barriers, self-esteem, issues of access to local recreation facilities and a lack of safe places to play. Strategies must be formulated to remove the barriers that are most relevant to each age, gender and socioeconomic group. Tackling inequalities in physical activity and achieving universal access to environments and facilities that support physical activity across social gradients will be necessary to achieve the best results. "Sports For a Better World" is an alliance that promotes innovative cooperation among the NGOs and federations in the sport sector across Europe. The main goal of the project is to propose political and strategic actions in order to promote physical activity in Europe. More specifically, the starting point of the reflexion is an alarming situation: levels of physical inactivity have reached an unprecedented peak in Europe. Indeed, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey on Sport and Physical Activity, 42% of EU citizens do not engage in physical activity at all. Consequently, our project aims at: • documenting the scale, costs and consequences of the physical activity crisis in Europe. • raising awareness of the physical inactivity crisis to decision-makers. • promoting physical activity for all as part of daily life • providing equal opportunities for physical activity regardless of gender, age, income, education, ethnicity or disability • removing barriers and facilitating physical activity • increase awareness of the importance of physical activity among key stakeholders • contribute to the achievement of optimal health for all people, the complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity • strengthening partner organisations’ capacities to design and carry out health-enhancing physical activity initiatives • increasing people’s active participation in to the local communities through developing their physical capabilities and inclination to personal effort, as well as social capabilities such as teamwork, solidarity, tolerance and fair play • developing, testing and exchanging new digital tools • developing practical guidance on how to organize and manage sporting events in order to empower people and make sport more inclusive and accessible The project will be led according to a three-step methodology: FIRST: We gather and analyse European data on the scale, costs and consequences of the physical activity crisis in Europe. Then, we use this research to raise awareness of the physical activity crisis to decision makers. THAN: We will develop curricula and make it available free of charge on the website and social media channels for the benefit of volunteers and professionals in sports organizations. THIRD: We will create an online portal and mobile phone application, where individuals can access detailed information about the activities and trainings that they can participate and organise in their locals. AND FINALLY: We will organize national seminars in the country of each project partner in order to disseminate the project results and to be used by different people. "Sports For a Better World" will achieve the following results and potential longer term benefits; •Increased professional network with experienced practitioners and cross-sector collaboration •Developed knowledge and awareness around the holistic benefits of physical activity: •Closed gap between research and policymaking •Improved data collection and monitoring •Communication and public awareness •Developed innovative educational modules with newest knowledge and experience regarding beneficiary development incorporated into inclusion education; •Increased benefits to people through digital resources •Raised awareness/ empowered against the real needs of the sport and health sector.
By implementing the project, We wanted to achieve; • document the scale, costs and consequences of the physical activity crisis in Europe. • raise awareness of the physical inactivity crisis to decision-makers. • promote physical activity for all as part of daily life • provide equal opportunities for physical activity regardless of gender, age, income, education, ethnicity or disability • remove barriers and facilitating physical activity • increase awareness of the importance of physical activity among key stakeholders • contribute to the achievement of optimal health for all people, the complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity • strengthen partner organisations’ capacities to design and carry out health-enhancing physical activity initiatives • increase people’s active participation in to the local communities through developing their physical capabilities and inclination to personal effort, as well as social capabilities such as teamwork, solidarity, tolerance and fair play • develop, testing and exchanging new digital tools • develop practical guidance on how to organize and manage sporting events in order to empower people and make sport more inclusive and accessible
Project Background: According to recent statistical data (from Physical activity strategy for the WHO European Region 2016–2025), physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for health and is estimated to attribute to one million deaths (about 10 % of the total), per year in the WHO European Region. It is estimated that 63% of European citizens do not reach the minimum recommended level of physical activity. Only 40% of them claim that they do sport at least once a week. Numerous studies show that physical activity has significant physical benefits, contributing to people’s ability to lead long and healthy lives, improving well-being, extending life expectancy and reducing the likelihood of several major noncommunicable diseases, particularly heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers by 25-30%. It also educates people about the body, raising awareness, increasing motivation and learning performance, respect for their bodies and those of others, critical for healthy living and the prevention of diseases. Data collected by the World Health Organisation indicates that over 5.3 million deaths each year are attributed to physical inactivity. This is more than from smoking. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has affected the EU and its Member States in a sudden and dramatic manner with an unprecedented impact on the health and daily life of European citizens. It has forced many people to stay at home and self-isolate for a period of time. In addition to its disastrous short and mid-term health impact (including inactivity, mental health risks linked to loneliness and anxiety), the pandemic will also have extraordinary long-term consequences on people’s daily lives, health, and generally on societies and many sectors of the economy, especially service sectors, e.g. tourism, food and accommodation services, transportation, and – sport. These unique circumstances, beyond all the harm and sadness they bring, are also an opportunity to innovate, to rethink policies and to reassess priorities in the long run. That’s why investing in sport and healthenhancing physical activity is more important than ever. In order to achieve a sustainable, healthy Europe, sport and physical activity must be brought into the heart of all policies.