Motion 2000 to Improve Health

In 1994 Turku launched a seven-year project MOTION 2000 for the development of prerequisites for physical activities by different City administrative bodies together. Its operating model was finally formed into a permanent practice unique countrywide, based on four strategies.

The Physical activity counselling aimed at encouraging e.g. customers of the Health and Social Welfare sectors to rehabilitating physical activity. The results showed improvement in the basic physical condition of the elderly in particular. Working out of the lower limbs helped many older people abandon walking sticks or rollators and continue normal life at home.

The Environmental Strategy focused on intensifying the use of existing facilities such as benches and improving them. Thus, the passive benches have become facilities that support active living. The Service Strategy drew attention to the development and production of district services for physical activities. There has been rare instructed physical activities available for inactive adults in particular.

Originally with three physical activity instructors, and later on with six more, we were able to place instructors in each city district. Together with sports clubs, they tailored services for people of different ages who were not used to be physically active, says Minna Lainio, Head of Section of Physical Activities in Sports and Recreation Department.

Children are encouraged to move
Organised in Turku's largest sports hall and in a number of suburban schools, "The Wonderland of Children's Motion" sets a successful example encouraging children to move. Every Sunday, nearly 4,000 children with their families gather together to play with balls, building blocks and bouncing mattresses. The idea originally came from Bergen, Turku's twin city in Norway.

All day nurseries in Turku - about 80 in total - employ a person responsible for physical activities and for regional stocks of sporting equipment. Kinder-garten teachers have been trained e.g. in swimming instruction. Consequently, elementary swimming instruction is given to each child in municipal day care. The goal of the Communication and Marketing Strategy was to spread the message of suitable physical activities by Turku on the magazine that is distributed to the 100,000 local households three times per year. The magazine has been published for ten years.

Making physical activities a daily routine. According to Minna Lainio, the biggest challenge of the Sports Board is to activate the passive. The City will act as a mediator and co-ordinator between the inhabitants, clubs and organisations. Sports clubs are usually dealing with active people who know what sports they are interested in. The passive do not join clubs and are easily passed unnoticed. Therefore, with different sectors, the City should pay special attention to encourage them to health enhancing physical activity to prevent national diseases such as type 2 diabetes.