Since its beginning in 2015, the European School Sport Day (ESSD) has been an essential driver of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) in schools across Europe and has become a flagship event of the European Week of Sport in the field of education.  . With a remarkable track record of engaging millions of students and their teachers, the initiative has continuously evolved to address key societal issues through various kinds of physical activity and sport. In 2025, ESSD embraces a key new theme: "Power of Cooperation: Strengthening Links Between Sport Clubs and Schools in the Field of Sport, Physical Activity, and Health." This year’s focus is set to create lasting partnerships between educational institutions and local sports organisations, ensuring a more active, engaged, and healthier generation.

Building bridges through sport 

The importance of cooperation between schools and sports clubs cannot be overstated. While schools play a fundamental role in shaping children’s attitudes towards physical activity and healthy living, sports clubs provide expertise and motivation extending beyond merely talent identification. ESSD 2025 aims to showcase the advantages of these collaborations, demonstrating how they can enhance students’ well-being, create new opportunities for physical activity, and even improve academic performance.
One of the key objectives of ESSD 2025 is to highlight best practices from across Europe. Participating schools will be encouraged to share their success stories of working with sports clubs, establishing an environment where collaboration thrives. These partnerships will benefit young people in terms of health and skill development and contribute to stronger community ties and a sustainable approach to youth sports development.

The impact of ESSD

ESSD has always been more than just a one-day event—it is a movement. In 2024, over 3.2 million students from 42 countries took part in ESSD activities, making it one of the most significant initiatives of the European Week of Sport. Year after year, schools have implemented innovative approaches to keep students engaged in physical activity, and 2025 will be no exception.

By focusing on collaboration, this edition of ESSD will provide schools with practical tools, self-assessment resources, and training materials to establish and strengthen relationships with sports organisations. A key component of this effort will be the annual Focus Topic Toolkit, a valuable resource designed to help schools integrate sports club partnerships into their curriculum and extracurricular activities.

How schools and clubs can get involved

Participation in ESSD 2025 is open to all schools and sports clubs that believe in the power of cooperation. Whether through joint sports events or shared facilities, the possibilities for collaboration are endless. The European School Sport Day event aims to provide schools with best practices on how to work together with local sport clubs for the benefit of both parties. 

The Future of School Sport in Europe

With growing concerns about physical inactivity among young people, initiatives like ESSD are more important than ever. ESSD 2025 aims to create a more inclusive, active, and supportive environment for students to develop lifelong healthy habits by linking schools with sports clubs. The European School Sport Day continues to evolve, embracing new challenges and reinforcing its commitment to promoting sport and physical activity at all levels.

Join us in making ESSD 2025 a groundbreaking #BeActive year for school sports cooperation! Let’s work together to ensure that every child has access to quality physical activity, benefiting their health and future. Register your school or sports club today and become part of the movement that is shaping the future of physical education in Europe.

Key facts
Project period: January 2025-December 2025
Co-funded by: ERASMUS-SPORT-2024-SNCESE — Not-for-profit European sport events
Grant amount: €300,000

Project partners
1.    HSSF – Hungarian School Sport Federation, Hungary, Coordinator
2.    ISCA – International Sport and Culture Association, Denmark, Partner
3.    EUPEA – European Physical Education Association, Luxembourg, Partner
4.    BGBA – BG Be Active, Bulgaria, Partner
5.    DES – Deporte para la Education y la Salud, Spain, Partner
6.    V4Sport – Fundacja V4 Sport, Poland, Partner

European School Sport Day Project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.