[President's Corner] Bringing Physical Activity Closer to People

Physical activity and health go hand in hand. For those of us working in Sport for All and physical activity, this may sound obvious – something we almost take for granted.

Yet when we look at today's major health challenges, we can see that physical activity is still not being used enough as part of the solution. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for around 1.8 million avoidable deaths every year in the WHO European Region, while the economic losses linked to avoidable NCD deaths alone are estimated at more than USD 500 billion annually. Investing in Sport for All and physical activity is therefore not only about helping people live healthier lives. It is also an investment in prevention.

We have decades of research showing that physical activity can help prevent and manage NCDs and improve both physical and mental health. The evidence is there. The real challenge is turning what we know into action.

Most people already know that being active is good for them, and many would like to be more active. Yet physical inactivity remains high. The latest European Commission Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity, published this September, shows some encouraging progress: the share of Europeans who never exercise or play sport has fallen from 45% in 2022 to 39% in 2026. But almost four in ten Europeans still never exercise or play sport.

So the question is not simply whether people understand the benefits of physical activity. It is how we make it easier for them to become active – and stay active.

Sport is organised differently from country to country, through sports clubs, federations, public institutions, universities, National Olympic Committees, NGOs and many others. Together, they enable millions of people to be active every day. But these systems are not always as successful in reaching those who are inactive.

This is particularly true for persons with disabilities, older adults, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and marginalised populations. Helping people who are currently inactive to become more active remains one of the biggest challenges for our sector.

At the same time, we are still not making full use of what Sport for All can offer. Healthcare is still largely focused on treating illness rather than preventing it, while physical activity is not yet sufficiently connected to healthcare systems.

There are already good examples of how this can change. Physical Activity on Prescription has been successfully used in Sweden for more than two decades. Instead of simply advising patients to "exercise more", healthcare professionals can prescribe individually adapted physical activity and connect people with opportunities to be active in their communities. The Swedish model has been recognised as a European best practice and adapted in several other European countries. It shows what can happen when health and Sport for All work together.

This connection between health, physical activity and our everyday environment was also at the heart of the 17th HEPA Europe Conference, held earlier this month in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in cooperation with the WHO Regional Office for Europe. More than 400 participants from Europe and beyond came together under the theme "Green Pathways to Health", exploring the links between green spaces, 24-hour movement behaviours and the prevention of NCDs.

One message is particularly relevant for Sport for All: if bringing people to physical activity is difficult, we can also bring physical activity closer to people.

The places where we live, work, study and move around every day can either encourage or discourage us from being active. Parks, green spaces, safe walking and cycling routes and accessible recreational areas can make movement a natural part of everyday life rather than something that always needs to be specially planned.

September has also given us good examples of this in practice. The European Week of Sport, taking place from 23 to 30 September under #BeActive Your Way, encourages people to find ways of being active that fit their own lives. The European School Sport Day, celebrated on 25 September under the theme "Step, Pedal, Move! – Active Mobility in Schools," brings the same message to children and young people, encouraging movement to become part of everyday school life.

Different initiatives, but the same direction: we need to make physical activity easier, more accessible and more naturally part of everyday life.

This conversation will continue at the International Physical Literacy Conference (IPLC), taking place from 1 to 3 October in Toulouse, France, under the theme "Stronger Together through Movement". Bringing together perspectives from health, education, sport and physical activity, the conference will explore how physical literacy can support people in being active throughout their lives, including through a dedicated focus on health and prevention.

And this momentum will continue on 4 October, when TAFISA World Walking Day – 24 Hours Around the Globe will invite people around the world to move together in a global 24-hour relay. It is perhaps one of the simplest expressions of Sport for All: creating an opportunity for everyone to participate, regardless of age, background or ability.

Investing in Sport for All and physical activity can help reduce healthcare costs. But the benefits go much further – from social inclusion and stronger communities to better health and well-being. The value of such investment, and how we can better demonstrate its wider return to society, will also be an important part of the discussions as we look ahead to the 30th TAFISA World Congress in Gaborone, Botswana, next year.

To make this happen, governments, health, civil society, academia and sport need to work together. We already have the knowledge, the evidence and many good examples. What we need now is to turn them into action.

We know that physical activity works. Now we need to make it work for everyone.

We cannot afford not to act.