National Sports Confederation Receives SEK 70 Million Investment to Attract Seniors to Sports

By 2024, the National Sports Confederation received SEK 70 million from the state to acquire confederations and associations to attract new seniors to sports and keep the active target group 65 plus in work throughout the year.

– The goal is to get more activities and more associations that provide regular exercise and other association activities where older people participate, says Aila Ibanez Mengüc.

There are several examples where associations have been creative to attract older people to participate. Football, athletics, judo, tennis and billiards are examples of specific sports associations that have adapted different activities.

– We at the National Sports Confederation have carried out two main studies and have seen that modified activities are important to get the target group to try something new. But modified activities include much more than just the threshold, but it is also about continuing to go down the threshold when the body changes, says Aila Ibanez Mengüc.

Aila Ibanez Mengüc suggests several ways to get the elderly to move, using ready-made training plans or creating activities based on the wishes of the target group.

Photo: RF

The number of specific sports associations and regions which is involved in investment has gradually increased. From 21 confederations in 2020 to the current 52 (out of 72) and from six to 19 RF-Sisu regions.

– If a federation or association has a good and long-term idea that promotes movement to the target group, they will receive a share of the money. But it doesn’t have to be just new ideas, they can also improve existing ones, explained Aila Ibanez Mengüc.

With the help of the investment, the question of changed activities was raised and Aila Ibanez Mengüc believes that it is felt outside the country.

– We see that associations that already have the target group with them can work more positively, but also that more associations will offer more regular activities to the elderly, in 2023 there were more 2,000 associations that received project support. Changes are being made so that, for example, more people can play football. There are people who have never kicked a ball but are now.

Aila Ibanez Mengüc explains that, for example, a walking football can create rings on the water.

– The sports movement grows when new ideas and sports come into being in this way. More and more people are realizing that there are other sports than the ones traditionally used by older people.

New for 2024 is that five groups from 22 member associations and 12 different regions of RF-Sisu are working with five designated development areas.

– Their task is to develop methods and techniques to support societies with the challenges of getting older people to start sports.

If an association wants to develop its activities for an older target group, they can apply for support through their association. Aila Ibanez Mengüc also gives general suggestions on how the work can be done.

– There is a lot of support available from people who work with this at, for example, our affiliates and the Sisu area. In athletics, for example, ready-made training plans are available. Another tip is to introduce and create activities based on the wishes of the target group. Then I know that coffee is the most successful part to keep and reach more people, says Aila Ibanez Mengüc.

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