Movement for a balanced life: RSU launches campain #BEACTIVE DAY 2026

Today, 16 July, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) hosted a kick-off event for the Europe-wide #BEACTIVE DAY 2026 physical activity initiative. This year's focus is on mental health and wellbeing, highlighting the importance of regular physical activity, as emphasised by Aleksandrs Samoilovs, Director of the Sports Department at the Ministry of Education and Science: ‘Physical activity allows us to take care of ourselves and gives us energy. We need to maintain a balance between mental and physical strain in order to function at our best. Physical activity offers relief from mental stress.’ He encouraged everyone to find a suitable sports activity.  

This year, RSU has become a partner of #BEACTIVE DAY in Latvia, reaffirming the important role of higher education and healthcare sector in promoting public health. The partnership will strengthen an evidence-based approach to promoting physical activity and raise awareness of the impact of physical activity on a person’s mental health. 

During the event RSU Vice-Rector for Studies Prof. Haralds Plaudis emphasised that sporting is one of the most effective ways to promote health, available to everyone without a prescription. Scientific evidence confirms that regular physical activity improves both physical health and mental resilience as well as overall wellbeing. That is why it is particularly significant that this year’s #BEACTIVE DAY focuses on mental health.  

As a university dedicated to health and sports, RSU supports this initiative, aiming to inspire people to choose an active lifestyle, so that physical movement becomes a daily habit and contributes to a healthier society.

Prof. Haralds Plaudis, RSU Vice-Rector for Studies

During the event, it was emphasised that physical activity is one of the most accessible ways to improve wellbeing, reduce stress, and promote emotional resilience. This year’s #BEACTIVE DAY plans were also presented, along with a call for municipalities, sports organisations, educational institutions, and other partners to get involved in implementing the initiative throughout Latvia. Vladimirs Šteinbergs, Chair of the Latvian Sports Federations Council, highlighted the importance of the #BEACTIVE movement for the wellbeing of the sector, the state, and the society as a whole.  

The event brought together representatives from the sports, healthcare, education and public policy sectors to discuss ways of encouraging public participation in physical activity and strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration.  Gints Kuzņecovs, Chair of the Latvian Health and Fitness Association, emphasised that #BEACTIVE DAY is not just a single day on the calendar - it is a movement to inspire people throughout the year to embrace a more active and healthier lifestyle. 

#BEACTIVE DAY is a Europe-wide initiative that each year brings together sports clubs, educational institutions, businesses, and other organisations to inspire people to exercise more through a variety of activities. As every year, on 23 September, various free sports and physical activity events will take place across Latvia with the goal of raising public awareness of the positive impact of movement on physical and mental health.