Post-COVID-19, WHO identified the impacts on people’s behaviour and access to physical activity and sports services and facilities. There was a clear opportunity to highlight the importance of physical activity for physical and mental health, and to address inequities in access.

WHO created a series of eight webinars, featuring panelists from the physical activity and sports systems and explored approaches to improving systems across four thematic areas including 1) innovation 2) partnership 3) use of evidence, and 4) accountability and investment. 

1. Build forward stronger—opportunities for exercise, fitness and health

This webinar explores a future vision for exercise and fitness, the opportunities and challenges of engaging more people to be active, and what actions are needed to strengthen the workforce and connect effectively with the health sector.

2. Ready for change: the future of sport, exercise and fitness

This webinar explores the 1) impact of COVID-19 on physical activity, exercise and fitness 2) key trends which influence how to reinvent a stronger system, and 3) communication needed to reach and engage more people to be active.

3. From evidence to policy: physical activity and COVID-19

This webinar presents the latest science on physical activity and COVID-19 and discuss priority research gaps. It debates if the evidence is informing current policy and COVID-19 response and recovery plans.

4. Hidden in plain sight: realizing the full potential of civil society

This webinar includes dialogue on what actions are needed for civil society organisations to strengthen and scale the provision of sport and physical activity opportunities to achieve greater health and social impacts.

5. Innovation as an accelerator: from start up to scale

This webinar explores how digital technology and innovation can engage and support more people of all ages and abilities to be active. It explores whether digital solutions accelerate progress or widen inequalities in access, opportunities and participation in physical activity and sport.

6. Measure what you treasure: strengthening impact and investment in sport and physical activity 

This webinar includes discussion on progress of assessing the impact of physical activity and sport, international efforts to develop standard instruments and indicators of social and economic impact, and what tools are needed to attract and scale greater investment in sport and physical activity.

7. An Active Future: Youth Forum to co-create an active generation

This webinar provides a platform for youth to voice their perspectives and make recommendations on what and how the physical activity and sport eco-system should be strengthened.

8. Active for All: action through stronger partnership

This webinar consolidates the recommendations needed to build forward a stronger, fairer and more inclusive physical activity and sport system. It explores how to strengthen partnerships and implementation across all domains and between all actors in the system.