Skopje pupils ran the "Erasmus Cross" in City Park: a race with no competition to close Erasmus Week

In Skopje's City Park, on the tartan track, primary and secondary school pupils took part in the "Erasmus Cross", a sports-and-fun event that closed the "Erasmus Days" programme. The organiser was the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility.

The races were split by age group and started at 10 a.m., but nobody was competing for a podium. According to the Agency, the aim was to encourage physical activity, healthy habits, youth participation and European values. Visitors also got an entertainment programme and a presentation of what the "Erasmus+" programme can offer.

The week dedicated to "Erasmus+" ran from 12 to 17 October and covered activities in education, training, youth and sport.

Kids running in a park instead of sitting in front of a screen is good news on its own. "Erasmus+" opens the door for many young people from Macedonia to study and do exchanges in Europe. How many of them will walk through that door - and how many will come back home with what they learned - is a question no race can answer.