Brussels, 27/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Cypriot Presidency's proposal to hold “a European week of sport” every year - in order to promote physical activity and participation in sport at all levels - received an enthusiastic welcome from the representatives of the sports world who were invited to a working lunch by the Council before the Council session on sport on 27 November. The Cypriots want to open a debate on the challenges to be met as regards physical activity that is beneficial to health, and as part of this, to promote the establishment of a European week of sport on an annual basis in order to raise awareness with sedentary people of practising sport in a fun and attractive way. During the discussion, which was entitled “From virtual sport to real sport”, the member states were also generally in favour of this initiative as long as it is well managed, well thought out and in support of other initiatives that already exist. The commissioner responsible for sport, Androulla Vassiliou, said that this now needs to be implemented for it to be a success. She said she thought that the first week could be launched in 2014 and that it would be a success. (IL/transl.fl)