Figure 4 – European Week of Sport: Key events and highlights

This year, the sixth round of the European Week of Sport (23-30 September 2020) kicked off in unusual circumstances (see Figure 4). The lockdown measures put in place to curb the coronavirus pandemic have made the initiative more necessary than ever. The #BeActive campaign that has accompanied the event since its launch by the European Commission in 2015 is driving its message home with a new urgency. Since mid-March, with teleworking and self-isolation becoming a daily reality for many Europeans, going to the gym – or even simply walking to the office – has turned into a distant memory. It has therefore become essential for many people to find new ways to remain physically active.
The #BeActiveAtHome campaign encouraged the use of social media as a way to exchange novel ideas about exercising while staying at home. By posting with the hashtag #BeActiveAtHome and mentioning @EUSport on Twitter and @european_youth_eu on Instagram, sports enthusiasts have had the opportunity to show what they are doing to stay fit. The best and funniest content has been shared on the social media accounts of the Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture.