The HIKE project follows the values of the European Sports Charter, which states that sport and physical activity should be a right for everyone, not just for a few. This idea became more important in the late 20th century, when people started to see that sport could do much more than just support competition – it could also improve health, bring people together, and support learning.
The European Sports Charter was first introduced by the Council of Europe in 1992, to create a shared set of rules across European countries. It recognised that everyone – no matter their age, gender, background or income – should have the chance to take part in sport. It also encouraged countries to work together to make sport a positive and healthy part of everyday life.
But even today, there are still big differences in who gets to be active:
In Italy, Greece and Turkey, women are less active than men, often because of social expectations, safety issues, or simply a lack of suitable opportunities. People with less money or lower education levels are also much less likely to exercise regularly. In Italy, for example, only 41% of adults meet the recommended level of activity, and women in the south of the country are especially affected. In Greece, there’s one of the biggest gender gaps in physical activity in the EU, and in Turkey, access to safe and welcoming places to exercise is still limited, especially for women and people living in rural areas.
That’s the idea behind the HIKE project – to make it easier for everyone to enjoy sport activities, especially hiking and outdoor movement. By offering free, guided walks in nature, HIKE gives people a simple and low-cost way to be active. Hiking doesn’t need special skills or equipment, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds. By planning inclusive routes and encouraging local communities to join in, the project helps make movement in nature something that’s truly open to all.
By keeping things simple and open to everyone, the HIKE project offers an easy way to enjoy physical activity outdoors. It’s a small but meaningful step toward making sport and movement more accessible for all.
Sources:
Mobilità attiva – Sorveglianza Passi. (2023)
World Health Organisation. (2024). Physical activity Fact Sheet.
Ince Yenilmez, Meltem & Celik, Onur. (2020). The Difference between Male and Female Sport Participation in Turkey: “Determination Always Finds a Way”. Sport Mont. 18. 107-112. 10.26773/smj.200601.
European Commission. Eurobarometer – Sport and Physical Activity