Staying active is about much more than just keeping fit. It helps you stay in good health even into later life - both physically and mentally. The European Week of Sport, which takes place from 23 to 30 September, is to remind us of this often forgotten truth.

Do we really need the encouragement? It seems so. The statistics are worrying: nearly half of adult Europeans never exercise or play sport, and the proportion has been gradually increasing in recent years (according to a Eurobarometer survey).

The European Week of Sport consists of thousands of events across all EU countries, giving people a chance to try different sports and activities, both indoors and outdoors. You can take part regardless of your age and how fit you are - just #BeActive! Check out what’s happening in your country on the event’s website.

This year’s edition is more important than ever as we all need to catch up after weeks of closed gyms, pitches, parks and forests. The whole sports sector was severely hit by the COVID-19 crisis and the Council is playing an active role in its recovery.

Ready to get moving? If you need a good beat, check out the Spotify playlist prepared specially for this event. And remember that sweat is just your fat crying!