We Support the European Week of Sport!

Time to be active! From 10th to 16th September the EFL and the EFL Trust will be supporting the European Week of Sport encouraging people from all over Europe to #BeActive.

The European Week of Sport (EWoS) is an initiative backed by the European Commission to promote sport and physical activity. Sport can be emotionally uplifting and contributes significantly to a sense of togetherness and wellbeing.

This year will mark the second edition of the European Week of Sport and, building on the success of the first edition, will continue generating new activities, as well as building on successful ones.

Aiming to promote sport and physical activity across Europe, the overarching theme remains #BeActive and should encourage everyone to be active during the Week but also stay active all year long, regardless of age, background, gender or ability.

With sports participation a core focus of the EFL Trust, EFL clubs up and down the country will continue their work in providing sporting opportunities for people of all ages and ability throughout European Week of Sport, and throughout the year via their own community trust schemes.

Using the power of sport to make a difference to people’s lives, each year the EFL’s 72 trusts engage with more than one million people in sports participation projects. Over 20,000 children take part in the Kids and Girls Cup competitions each year, more than 1,000 men and women over 50 took part in the EFL Trust National Walking Football Cup last year and the Female Football Development Scheme has inspired over 40,000 new players to start playing the Women and Girl’s Game.

The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) will be supporting the 2016 EWoS campaign and as an official EWoS Partner, the European Leagues will contribute to raising awareness of the initiatives and help share the key messages that sport not only provides many health benefits but can bring people together and positively contribute to our society.

Led by the European Commission, sporting organisations are inviting sports clubs, schools, community groups and individuals to get involved and promote sporting events and activities in their communities using #BeActive.

The EFL and the EFL Trust are excited to be actively participating and supporting the European Week of Sport campaign again in 2016 and encourage all citizens to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle.

The EwoS is also supported at professional level within the EFL and 31 year old Fleetwood Town captain Nathan Pond has stated how important it is to stay active:

“I’ve always looked after my body keeping fit and it’s paid off. I only became a full time professional footballer with Fleetwood Town in 2010, despite playing from a young age. I stayed active and healthy over the years and at the age of 31 feel as fit as i’ve ever felt.

“I’ve always tried to lead by example. It’s important to look after your body all the time, especially when you’re playing sport at a high level so it’s important that we as professinal athletes support the European Week of Sport and encourage people to get active.”

Read more here.