The award is open to:

• Founders and co-founders
• Owners, chief executives or senior leaders with clear entrepreneurial responsibility
• Entrepreneurs from operators, suppliers, digital and technology providers, education, events or related services active in the European health and fitness sector

The size or age of the venture is not a limiting factor. Strong stories of entrepreneurship at any stage are welcome.

Applicants should demonstrate strength in at least three of the following areas:

• Innovative leadership
  Evidence of leading teams and organisations through change with a clear vision and strategy.
• Entrepreneurial drive
  A proven ability to start, scale or transform a business or initiative, particularly under challenging conditions.
• Novel ideas and impact
  Introduction of new concepts, products, services or models that have led to measurable value for customers, staff, partners or communities.
• Transformational change
  A clear contribution to improving how the sector operates, e.g. through digitalisation, access, quality, sustainability or professional standards.
• Resilience and achievements
  Examples of overcoming setbacks, adapting to change and delivering concrete achievements such as growth, partnerships, new markets or social impact.

Applicants or nominators will be asked to provide:

• A short biography of the entrepreneur (up to 300 words)
• A description of the company or initiative (up to 400 words)
• Evidence of impact, including data, milestones and examples (up to 400 words)
• Optional supporting material: links, press coverage, testimonials or a short video

As 2025 marked the fifth year of the the campaign,  #BEACTIVE DAY Award will be presented as an honorary distinction. 

In its inaugural year, EuropeActive will recognise a National Association that has demonstrated exceptional commitment, resilience and leadership across previous 5 editions of the campaign. This approach acknowledges that the strength of #BEACTIVE DAY has been built over time through sustained effort, including under particularly challenging circumstances. 

From 2027 onwards, the award will follow a structured nomination and jury review process in line with the other EuropeActive Awards. 

Who is eligible 

The award will be open to: 

• EuropeActive National Association members that have participated in the most recent #BEACTIVE DAY campaign. 
• Participation may be under Erasmus+ funded or voluntary implementation. Both are equally eligible. 
• Applications must be submitted by the National Association, not by individual clubs or partners. 

 Award criteria 

To ensure fairness across countries of different sizes and capacities, National Associations will be assessed on proportional impact, quality of coordination and strategic development, rather than absolute numbers alone. 

National Associations will be evaluated across the following areas: 

• Leadership and coordination: Clear national leadership in planning, organising and promoting the campaign. Evidence of structured coordination with clubs, partners and regional/national stakeholders. 
• Engagement: Number and diversity of events and activities organised under #BEACTIVE DAY at national level, such as events in clubs, schools, workplaces and public spaces, and coverage across regions. Assessment will consider national context, population size and organisational capacity. Both scale and depth of engagement will be valued. 
• Partnerships and ecosystem building: Effective collaboration with operators, municipalities, schools, workplaces, health organisations, sponsors and other stakeholders.  
• Communication and visibility: Quality, consistency and creativity of campaign communication, including digital channels, media engagement and visible use of #BEACTIVE DAY branding.  
• Inclusion and accessibility: Demonstrated efforts to engage different age groups, communities, and people of all abilities including groups that are less active or harder to reach. Adaptation of activities to local needs and campaign's focus will be positively assessed. 
• Innovation and adaptability: Introduction of new formats, partnerships or approaches that enhance the campaign’s relevance. This includes hybrid formats, digital activation, or solutions implemented under exceptional circumstances. 
• Evidence and impact: Ability to document and communicate results through both quantitative data and qualitative storytelling, including participant feedback, case examples or visual documentation. 

The #BEACTIVE DAY Award will not reward size alone. Larger countries are not automatically advantaged. 

The jury will consider national context, and implementation model. Associations from smaller countries or operating without EU funding will be assessed with equal weight, particularly where creativity, coordination and proportional engagement are strong. 

The award is designed to motivate continuous improvement and peer learning across the EuropeActive network.