Emma McClarkin MEP encourages people to #BeActive

As today marks the start of the EU’s European Week of Sport (7th-13th), the aim of which is to get people active and support grass roots sports projects up and down the UK, local MEP Emma McClarkin is welcoming the opportunity to encourage people to #BeActive

Regardless of age, fitness level or background people can take part in these events. European Week of Sport aims to foster local opportunities that will inspire people to #BeActive more regularly.

Lead by Sport England in the UK, there in excess of 160 events in the UK, with a little over 10 in the East Midlands. Schools in the UK will play host to health and fitness days, to encourage children to seek out sustained activity.

Inactivity in Europe is becoming a major problem with the number of those taking part in sport and activity even declining in some member states.

In the UK around 37% of British Adults do not engage in the recommended weekly physical activity, with that figure reaching 85% in adolescents or children. This comes at a cost to the UK economy and well-being. It is estimated that the cost of inactivity to the UK is £1.4billion.

Emma McClarkin said:

“I regularly see figures and statistics highlighting the inactivity of Europeans, most worryingly are the figures of our younger generation. It is important that we do all we can to support the uptake of activeness, right where it is needed at the grass roots level. This support can be distributed to education, sport clubs or at work.

“It is important that we build on our 2012 Olympic legacy and encourage the grass root uptake of sport and activity that swept the nation only three years ago. This is a chance for people to realise the number of local options available to them to #BeActive on a regular basis.”

To find out where your local ‘European Week of Sport Event’ is go to www.sportengland.org/beactive #BeActive

Emma also a keeps a list of local community Sports Clubs on her website and encourages clubs to get in touch with their details to be added to this East Midlands Sports directory. http://emmamcclarkin.com//?page_id=658