Conference "Towards a healthy and active Europe" held

A conference called "Towards a healthy and active Europe - Change your lifestyle and start living a healthier life" was held in Zagreb on Thursday as part of the European Week of Sport and the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The conference was opened by Tourism and Sport Minister Nikolina Brnjac, presenting the results of a survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sport and recreational activities. The survey showed that nearly 60 percent of people do not engage in physical activity, while a third have become less active because of the pandemic.

"A healthy diet, sport in curricular and extra-curricular activities, better access to sports and sport infrastructure are areas that require additional efforts to reverse this negative trend," Brnjac said.

She said that allocations for local sports had increased to nearly HRK 18 million, making it possible for 150,000 people to engage in sports. The ministry has begun investing in local sport infrastructure, co-financing the construction, reconstruction or equipping of 99 sports facilities with nearly HRK 50 million, she added.

"Physical activity has a preventive value and has a direct impact on health and the quality of life in general. That's why we have to do all we can to ensure that as many people as possible engage in physical activity. We want a healthy nation, and engaging in physical activity is the easiest and best way to achieve that," Brnjac said.

(Hina)

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