BACKSTAGE The Odyssey Trust Celebrate European Week of Sport

Inspiring people to #BeActive, the European Week of Sport was initially launched in 2015 in response to the growing crisis of inactivity, with the aim of improving awareness around the importance that physical activity has on the lives of European citizens. In 2022, the week-long initiative saw more than 32,800 events take place across Europe, with over 13.2 million participants getting active in the name of wellbeing.

Adrian Doyle, chief experience officer at The Odyssey Trust, said: “Across The Odyssey Trust, we’re proud to, once again, be supporting the European Week of Sport and its #BeActive campaign, alongside the European Arenas Association. Championing and promoting health, wellbeing, inclusion, innovation, and diversity underpins everything that we do and stand for, and the European Week of Sport provides the perfect opportunity to bring all of that into focus and come together in celebration.”

To mark the start of the European Week of Sport, the Belfast Giants will begin the defence of their Challenge Cup title against Dundee Stars at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Friday 22 September 2023. During one of the game’s intermissions, Belfast-based Better Gym will take over to host an interactive, inclusive exercise session, helping those in attendance get moving and have fun. Fans will also have the opportunity to find out more about the European Week of Sport and the work of the European Arenas Association in promoting more active, healthier lifestyles to millions of people across Europe and beyond.

Celebrating all things health and wellbeing, W5’s Learning and Engagement team will be hosting ‘Fit to Go’ – a drop-in show at W5’s Science Bar – across the weekends of Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September, and Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2023. The hands-on show, which will be free with admission to W5, offers visitors the chance to find out how their bodies work and how to stay healthy by listening to their hearts, testing reaction time, assembling organs, and building their very own skeletons.

Victoria Matthews, executive officer at the European Arenas Association, commented: “The European Arenas Association has been participating in the European Week of Sport since 2018, and we are very grateful to longstanding member, The Odyssey Trust, for being a major supporter of the annual campaign, providing innovative and fun ways to encourage staff, visitors, and members of the wider community to get involved in sports and adopt healthier lifestyles.”

For more information about the European Arenas Association and the European Week of Sport, please click here.