The „Night of Exercise”, an event aiming at drawing attention to the importance of physical exercise and regular sports, will be organised for the first time in June 2014, Minister of State for Health Miklós Szócska announced at a press briefing on Thursday.

The briefing was held under special circumstances as participants arrived at the venue, Heroes’ Square, running along Andrássy Street, central Budapest's main avenue.

DownloadThe Minister of State highlighted that a sedentary lifestyle causes just as many deaths as smoking, adding that a much higher percentage of Hungarians should be engaged in regular physical activity.

The Night of Exercise will take place from 10 pm on 28 June until 4 am on 29 June and may be attended free of charge. The event will include running different distances, cycling, rowing in the Budapest City Park Lake, as well as playing badminton and table tennis, all of which will be done at night. Some swimming pools will also remain open for the occasion.
The event will be funded by the European Union.

DownloadThe briefing was attended by Deputy State Secretary for Sport Pál Szekeres, who is both an Olympic and Paralympic gold medallist. He said it is rewarding to “invest” in our health, and regular exercise is indispensable if one wants to enjoy a good standard of life. To this end, daily physical education lessons have been introduced in schools.

With relation to improving public health, it is the Hungarian Government’s firm objective to regulate the content of trans fats in foods, and the relevant ministerial decree was announced by the Minister of State for Health last week. In addition, a public awareness campaign will be launched on the harmful effects of this food ingredient.

(Ministry of Human Resources)