Bled - The European Commission launched a two-year campaign HealthyLifestyle4All in Bled on Thursday, Slovenian Sports Day. The initiative, also marking the start of the European Week of Sport, is designed to link sport and active lifestyles with health, food and other policies.

Marija Gabriel, European commissioner in charge of sport, and Slovenian Minister for Education, Science and Sport Simona Kustec signed a committent on encouraging life-long physical activity, which is one of Slovenia's priorities during its EU presidency.

The initiative was joined by several other EU countries as well as the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, the European Olympic Committees, the International Paralympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the International School Sport Federation, the International Sport and Culture Association and other sport organisations.

Kusetc said that a healthy and happy life was an important value of the European way of life.

Gabriel said the EU did not only launch this campaign in principle but would actually adopt measures in cooperation with other stakeholders to improve the lives of EU citizens.

"The pandemic of the novel coronavirus has clearly demonstrated that sport can save lives. But as many as 46% of the people in the EU have never participated in sports activities, so the HealthyLifestyle4All campaign is an important step towards improving this," said Tomas Bach, the head of the International Olympic Committee.

A ceremony marking Slovenian Sports Day was held in Bled today accompanied by an exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of Slovenian sport.

On Friday, a conference will be held in Bled on sport for all and life-long physical activity.