Led by SportMalta, together with the national sport associations and clubs, Malta is backing the 2016 European Week of Sport which aims to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to be active.

Surveys show that levels of physical inactivity in Malta and across Europe are on the increase, with a negative impact on people’s health and well-being, as well as on the economy.

In Malta, the European Week of Sport runs from September 10 to 23 with seven events planned in six localities.

“Sport has a universal appeal and is good for physical and mental well-being,” Karl Izzo, the Malta waterpolo coach who is also a national sport ambassador, said.

“Individuals, communities and decision-makers can all contribute to putting greater value on sport and physical activity while building an active society.”

The European Commission’s Eurobarometer survey shows that in Malta, 52 per cent of people never or seldom exercise or play sport. This compares with the European average of 59 per cent.

The European Week of Sport, a Europe-wide initiative of the European Commission, was created to help address the issue of physical inactivity by encouraging the widest possible audience to be active.

It focuses on boosting physical activity in four specific areas: the educational environment, the workplace, outdoors and in sport clubs and fitness centres.

The first European Week of Sport, held last year, had a huge impact. More than five million people took part in over 7,000 events related to the Week across 31 countries.

Events ranged from pony rides for children in Brussels to the Great Dublin Bike Ride, which brought together 3000 cyclists, to an indoor rowing challenge in Malta.

This year’s European Week of Sport will launch on September 10 in Kosice, Slovakia.

National weeks of sport and other related events will run across Europe throughout next month.