The Covid-19 pandemic has truly highlighted the role of the fitness and physical activity sector as a tool of prevention in its promotion of healthy lifestyles and fighting of inactivity, as well as its connection with sustainability. Thus, during the European Week of Regions, the immense potential which the sports and the physical activity sectors have in the European Commission’s top political priorities of the European Green Deal and Green Transition were outlined. Specifically, this will involve the “greening” of the Erasmus + programme, under which sports-related projects are funded by the EU.
Guglielmo Di Cola member of the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth, Mariya Gabriel’s cabinet announced during SHARE webinar on promoting greener sports in our regions, that following the success of the Tartu Call, its follow up, which will have a much larger scope including healthy lifestyles, innovation, sustainability among others will be announced very soon. Furthermore, a Commission Report on the impact of Covid-19 on the sports sector will be published on November 17, at the Conference on the Future of the Sport Sector.
The continuing recognition of our sector as being of one of crucial importance for public health is welcomed by EuropeActive, as we look forward to the upcoming policy developments, and supporting our sector in the sustainable transition.