On December 12, 2024, ACES Europe celebrated its 25th anniversary with an extraordinary Awards Gala at the European Parliament in Brussels. Among the key highlights of the event was the presentation of EUAPPTIVE project, an Erasmus+ EU-funded initiative aimed at promoting active aging and physical activity through evidence-based research and innovative ICT tools.
ACES Europe Gala gathered over 60 awarded cities and high-profile representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament, UNESCO, other ACES Europe partners and other European institutions related to sports, wellbeing, health and physical activity.
Marcos López-Flores, CEO of the Sport Innovation Hub and Lead Partner of the EUAPPTIVE project, presented the initiative to the distinguished audience. During his presentation, he introduced the EUAPPTIVE Challenge 2025 and extended an invitation to awarded cities to participate in this groundbreaking program.
EUAPPTIVE Challenge 2025: Promoting Active Lifestyles
The EUAPPTIVE Challenge 2025 is a 16-week program set to launch in June 2025, targeting citizens of all ages, with a special focus on the elderly population. The challenge will create a structured framework for physical activity, informed by systematic research, good practices, and strategies to foster active aging.
Key goals of the challenge include:
- Active time: Tracking hours of physical activity.
- Distance: Measuring kilometers walked or cycled.
- Progress: Monitoring participant improvements (%).
- Environmental impact: Recording CO2 savings (tons).
- Self-perception: Evaluating participant feedback (Rate of Perceived Exertion – RPE).
Research and ICT Tools Driving Innovation
The research component of the EUAPPTIVE project focuses on identifying effective methods to engage senior citizens in physical activity. Leveraging ICT tools and insights from best practices, the project aims to design an impactful framework for the 2025 Challenge. A dedicated app will be developed to facilitate participation, enabling users to track their progress and stay motivated throughout the program.
Partnering Municipalities and Global Collaboration
The Challenge will be actively promoted by partner municipalities: Ayuntamiento de Carreño (Spain), Vila Nova de Poiares, (Portugal) and the City of Odense (Denmark). These municipalities will leverage their expertise in community engagement and healthy lifestyle initiatives to ensure widespread participation and impact. Since ACES Europe will invite all European awarded cities and regions to take part in EUAPPTIVE Challenge 2025 it is expected that more municipalities across Europe will be involved in the Challenge 2025.
The EUAPPTIVE project’s presentation at the ACES Gala underscored the importance of international collaboration in fostering healthier and more active communities. It also highlighted the potential of combining research, technology, and local partnerships to achieve sustainable well-being goals.
Join the Movement
The EUAPPTIVE Challenge 2025 invites all cities and citizens to join this innovative program and work together towards a healthier, more active future.