Paralympic champion and ukactive chair Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has issued a rallying cry for the UK to become the most active nation in the world by 2030.

Grey-Thompson made her comments to mark the 50-day countdown to the National Fitness Day, an annual event which will this year celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Taking place on 22 September, National Fitness Day 2021 will feature the theme ‘Fitness Unites Us’ and will see thousands of free and inclusive events available for anyone to try.

Health clubs, fitness studios, gyms, pools, leisure centres and other sports providers across the UK can register to host an event at www.nationalfitnessday.com.

A National Fitness Day Activity Finder will then help people to discover the events registered near to them.

Grey-Thompson said: “The past year has taught us many lessons but none more important than caring for our health and wellbeing, and that of our neighbour.

“The global pandemic has underlined how essential our fitness is, not only for our physical and mental health but also for our social and emotional wellbeing.

“I love National Fitness Day and this year offers the perfect opportunity to unite behind a collective ambition to become the most physically active nation in the world by 2030.

“The Government must make fitness its main priority for the nation’s recovery, because by being more active we not only have the chance to improve our mental and physical health, but to improve our resilience to COVID-19 and reduce the burden on the NHS.

“National Fitness Day is also a time to celebrate the essential role of every gym, pool, leisure centre, sports club and activity provider in the UK, and their incredible teams that will continue to motivate and support us safely.

"Let’s come together to celebrate and share what fitness means to us, and to commit to being more physically active.”