Still time to tap into European Week of Sport to boost your physical and mental health
By Joe McCarthy
European Week of Sport has been a big success so far and there are still opportunities for everyone, from beginners to seasoned athletes, to get more active or try something new.
Sport is a great way to transform your health and well-being. Regular participation in physical activity is linked to a wide range of physical and mental health benefits - and can even help you make new friends.
European Week of Sport offers plenty of opportunities to avail of those benefits.
Find your nearest EWOS events on our interactive map.[JK1]
Here’s a look at some specific events taking place.
European School Sports Day
European School Sports Day (ESSD) sees schools across Europe take one day to celebrate sport and physical activity on Friday, September 27th 2024.
The initiative aims to promote physical activity on an international level and involve as many children and young people, schools and organisations as possible.
In Ireland, ESSD is organised by the Irish Primary PE Association and has involved hundreds of primary school students over the years. ESSD returns as part of European Week of Sport 2024 and aims to reach as many students as possible.
Active Cities #BeActive Nights
As part of European Week of Sport 2024, six Active Cities will host #BeActive Nights on Saturday, September 28th across a number of regions. There are events taking place in Cork, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin, Dublin City, and Galway.
Get Ireland Walking - National Walking Day
Get Ireland Walking proudly presents the 5th National Walking Day on Sunday September 29th, as part of the European Week of Sport. National Walking Day celebrates the efforts of community walking volunteers and promotes walking at a local level in communities across Ireland.
Whether it’s a short stroll or a long hike, getting outside and moving is a great way to celebrate National Walking Day and the European Week of Sport.
Click here to find your nearest National Walking day event.
Sport Ireland Campus – BeActive Campus Open Week
The 2024 #BeActive Campus Open Week at Sport Ireland Campus is an amazing week of events and taster sessions on campus such as an Active Seniors fitness class, Pentathlon training for all age groups, along with other fantastic workshops across a variety of the sports on offer at the Sport Ireland Campus.
Ther[JK2] e are still tickets left for two brilliant events for #BeActive Campus Open Week on Saturday, September 28th and Sunday, September 29th.
BeActive 2km Glow Walk/Run Party
Get involved in the BeActive 2km Glow Walk/Run Party family event being held at 7pm on Saturday September 28th on the Sport Ireland Campus. It’s a great opportunity to get active and have fun as a family. There will be free glow-in-the-dark face and body paint along with disco glow sticks for all participants.
Make sure to wear your brightest clothing and make the most of this colourful family-friendly event!
To book your tickets and find out more information click here.
IRFU & Touch Association Ireland Touch Rugby Taster session
Get involved in one of Ireland’s fastest growing sports this weekend at the Sport Ireland Campus. This IRFU & Touch Association Ireland Touch Rugby taster session will take place at 10am on Saturday. This European Week of Sport event is being hosted by the IRFU in conjunction with the Irish Touch Association.
Take part in an event filled with fun and athleticism, learn the core skills of Touch Rugby by trying this taster session with coaches from the Irish Touch Association in conjunction with IRFU. This event is recommended for ages 12+.
To book your tickets and find out more information click here.
Find out more information about Sport Ireland Campus’ BeActive Campus Open week.[JK3]
The Irish Sports Monitor
Sport Ireland’s Research and Innovation unit surveyed the population of Ireland to track changes in sport and physical activity, their findings were outlined in the Irish Sports Monitor (ISM) 2023. The ISM report is all encompassing, monitoring participation, club membership, volunteering, event attendance, recreational walking, walking and cycling as modes of transportation as well as overall physical activity levels. The ISM provides useful data for the Research and Innovation unit, allowing them to devise new innovative strategies to get more people active. All the findings from ISM 2023 can be found here.