The European Commission organised the #BeActive Awards ceremony on November 26, celebrated as a hybrid event, with in-person attendance in Brussels, and via online streaming.

The opening speech was made by the Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture at the European Commission Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, reflecting on the actions and activities carried out within the European Week of Sport and the #BeActive campaign in general. She also reflected on major sport events hosted in Europe this year and their impacts - European Football Championship UEFA Euro 2024 and Paris 2026 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Participants were also addressed by Olympian Diana Bianchedi, Chief Strategy Planning and Legacy Officer of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, giving a keynote speech on the preparations and planned legacy of the event.

The awards were created to support projects and individuals dedicated to promotion of sport and physical activity across Europe. The awards have 4 categories: Education, Workplace, Local Hero and Across Generation Award. From the submitted initiatives, 12 finalists were presented at the awards ceremony - 3 per category. Leading by example, the following awards were attributed: #BeActive Education Award: SportUnion Austria (AUT); #BeActive Workplace Award: Metropolis of Lyon (FRA); #BeActive Local Hero Award: Alessio Bernabo (ITA); #BeActive Across Generation Award: Foundation of Sport Development Espanola (POL).

Following the awards ceremony, a panel debate in form of interviews with the 2023 #BeActive Awards winners was held, moderated by Georg Hausler, Director for Culture and Sport at DG EAC of the European Commission, with Vassiliya Draganova (AUT), Manuela Ferreira (POR), Soledad Rosende (ESP) and Kalin Vasilev (BUL) as the panellists.

The following day, representatives of the national coordinating bodies and official partners of the European Week of Sport and the #BeActive campaign met in Brussels. The internal meeting of the key players was opened by the Head of the Sport Unit of the European Commission Florencia Van Houdt. She also gave important policy updates, with the new College of Commissioners being approved the same day.

The meeting then focused on the highlights of the 2024 campaign, which engaged over 15 million participants in over 50.000 events, organised in 39 participating countries. The participants reviewied this year’s activities, showcasing good practice examples of the European and national campaigns. Participants also contributed to making plans for next year's anniversary 10th edition of the initiative.

European University Sports Association (EUSA) is an official partner of the European Week of Sport and the #BeActive campaign. The event in Brussels was attended by our Projects and Policy Manager Andrej Pisl.

For more information, please see https://sport.ec.europa.eu/event/beactive-awards-ceremony-2024