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Background: There is limited evidence on the priorities and opportunities associated with promoting population physical activity (PA) participation for the post-COVID-19-pandemic future. Purpose: This study assessed government-led PA promotion efforts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with post-COVID-19-pandemic priorities and recommendations. Methods: Two separate cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2023. Survey 1 was targeted at the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) Country Contacts. Survey 2 also included key international informants representing influential stakeholders in PA policy implementation. Results: There were 68 respondents to Survey 1, collectively representing 61 countries. An additional 37 people, including representatives from 14 key international stakeholders responded to Survey 2. Eighty-two percent of countries had national PA policies. COVID-19 widely disrupted PA policy implementation. Less than 40% of countries integrated PA into their COVID-19 response plan and more than 75% reported policies that restricted PA participation. Although most respondents indicated that government PA priorities did not change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one in five countries reported that cross-sectoral partnership had become more important during this period. Less than a third of postpandemic governments reported as highly engaged despite the widespread proliferation of PA policies and plans prior to the pandemic. There were variations according to country, region, and income. Conclusions: Elevating PA promotion on the public health agenda is crucial for the post-COVID-19-pandemic era. At a policy level, it is critical to focus on adequate resourcing, cross-sectoral partnerships, integrated interventions, and inequities in participation. These factors have become increasingly important in the postpandemic PA policy landscape.

Background: Physical activity and sport (PAS) have been related to health and social benefits, but their monetary value remains unclear. This systematic review on the social return on investment of PAS aimed to find what are the social outcomes measured in previous PAS literature and how are these measured and valued. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on WoS, PubMed, and EconLit. Articles in English, measuring the social value of any type of PAS in monetary terms and utilizing a social return on investment framework, were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Drummond checklist. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Results: Fifty-five documents (2010–2022), from all continents except America, were included; only 8 were published in peer-reviewed journals, whereas 47 were reports. Most studies evaluated the benefits of specific programs, and 6 measured the engagement in PAS at the population level based on national or community surveys. The social outcomes identified were health (94.5%), crime (50.9%), education (83.6%), subjective well-being (89.1%), social capital (60%), and other (3.6%–23.6%). The valuation methods included willingness to pay, well-being valuation, the cost of an activity that could result in the same outcome, and cost databases associating outcomes with a monetary value. Conclusions: This study updates a previous review and widens the scope by answering the question of how social outcomes are measured and valued in previous PAS literature. Given the heterogeneity found in the application of the method, this review will inform a Delphi study to reach a Global Consensus Statement on the measurement of social value and PAS.

Background: The associations between mobility limitations and device-measured physical activity are sparsely studied. In this study, these associations are studied among community-dwelling older twins. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data gathered in 2014–2016 for the MOBILETWIN study. Participants were twins born in Finland between 1940 and 1944 (774 participants, mean age 73 years). Physical activity was measured with a hip-worn accelerometer. Mobility limitations were assessed with a questionnaire. Results: Individual-level analyses revealed that physical activity was associated with mobility limitations. Participants with severe mobility limitations took 2,637 (SD = 1,747) steps per day, those with some mobility limitations 4,437 (SD = 2,637) steps, and those without mobility limitations 7,074 (SD = 2,931) steps (p < .05). The within-twin pair analyses revealed the same pattern for the 144 dizygotic twin pairs, but no associations were seen for the 117 monozygotic twin pairs. Conclusions: Accelerometer-measured physical activity and mobility limitations were associated in community-dwelling older adults. Genetic factors may explain some of the variations in physical activity. Significance: A personalized exercise program to promote increased physical activity should be provided for older adults who report mobility difficulties. Future research is needed to examine causality between physical activity and mobility limitations.

Background: The World Health Organization recognizes that physical activity (PA) during childhood is crucial for healthy development, aligning well with the achievement of several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aimed to explore the associations between 10 key indicators of PA for children and adolescents assessed in the Global Matrix 4.0 project, and the UN SDGs. Methods: Data from 57 countries/jurisdictions of the Global Matrix 4.0 project were used. The UN SDG indicators were sourced from the SDG Transformation Center, which publishes each country’s performance on each of the 17 SDGs. Given the robust evidence supporting plausible links between PA and SDGs 3 (good health and well-being), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), these SDGs were investigated. Results: Countries/jurisdictions with good and moderate performance in achieving SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 11, and SDG 16 had higher grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving these SDGs for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. However, countries/jurisdictions with good performance in achieving SDG 13 had lower grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving SDG 13 for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. Conclusions: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies were the indicators that demonstrated differences between countries/jurisdictions with good and poor performance in achieving the SDGs.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological profile of the 2023 Hungarian National Distance Running Team in terms of personality traits, motivational styles, and competitive anxiety and to explore specific psychosocial factors that characterize the athletes’ mental preparation. The 16 international-level competitors were assessed using validated questionnaires in Hungarian (Big Five Inventory, the revised Sport Motivation Scale, and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2), and university students competing at professional and semiprofessional levels served as the control group. Results indicated that elite distance runners were primarily intrinsically motivated. Their psychological profile appeared similar to profiles found among athletes in the control group. Significant differences were found in traits, such as openness, conscientiousness, and motivation. Neuroticism was positively associated with athletes’ cognitive and somatic anxiety, with self-confidence providing a protective role. Working with a sports psychologist appeared to have no significant measurable effect on athletes precompetition anxiety. Specific personality traits and motivational structures are essential for elite sporting performance. Further research is needed to better understand and determine the specific components of mental preparation.

The first years of life are an optimal time for developing motor competence. However, the evidence regarding motor competence in early childhood is fragmented and needs to be clearly synthesized and presented. To establish effective evidence-based decision making in research, practice, and policy for the early years, this expert statement, on behalf of the International Motor Development Research Consortium, draws together what is currently known about 3- to 5-year-old children on (a) how skilled are children around the world, (b) the link between motor competence and healthy developmental outcomes, and (c) the capacity to improve children’s motor competence through intervention. This expert statement presents a summary of recent evidence for each of these specific points, followed by recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.