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Healthy body, healthy mind 2020-2023

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Discussion with municipality: Finland

Created by Linda-Maria Lundén
Last updated by Linda-Maria Lundén 1 year 6 months ago

First interview 20 October 2021

 

Interview with municipality spring 2020

 

 Students Pinja Niemenrinne, Taika Heinonen and Oona Toorikka in deep discussion with the representatives in charge of the municipality´s sports activities.

 

INTERVIEW:

How has Covid-19 affected the popularity of sports among the younger generations?

= Group activities have been canceled and reduced, and enthusiasts have disappeared.

Has the pandemic caused a clear decrease in how much people move?

= Participation in group activities has clearly been reduced, but solo exercise is still popular. This also does not include commuting by foot or bicycle. 

What outdoor recreational opportunities have been offered to young people so that they could work out while the gyms have been closed and sports activities suspended?

= Outdoor gyms, weighted frisbee golf, photo orienteering, outdoor skating rinks and fitness tracks have not been very popular.

Have young people become marginalized because of Covid-19?

= Yes and no, online school have had an impact, the teacher is not so present, and you can't see your friends face to face.

Has the lack of access to hobbies caused mental health problems among the younger generations?

= The pandemic has definitely had a negative effect, but it is not clear whether it´s because of the lack of exercise or some other reason. It can, however, be said that there has been an increase in the amount of feedback that the municipality has received.

How will the importance of exercise be promoted among young people in the future?

= The aim is to create new activities and organize new projects.

What methods could you use to encourage the younger generations to join sports and hobby groups again? 

= Clearly communicating that there is great interest and cooperation with clubs is important.

Will more outdoor gyms be established in Naantali in the future?

=The younger generations are generally not very interested in outdoor gyms, but new outdoor gyms are currently being planned for Karvet.

What kind of projects are ongoing or will be implemented in the near future?

= A youth passport, which can be downloaded to your phone. We also have more hobby activities planned and a sports survey will be carried out among high school students and vocational school students.

Second interview 21 April 2023

Interviewing people from the municipality.
Present: Linda-Maria Lunden (teacher/photographer), (students) Ilona Paana, Edina Subasic, Niklas Porkka, (projectplanner) Susanne Nummelin and (head of sportsservices) Maija Puolakanaho
 
INTERVIEW:
 
1.How has the city coped with the effects of COVID-19? Are its effects still visible?
Answer: Young people have returned to sports, but not yet at the same level as before.
 
2.Have there been any new sports or exercise opportunities in Naantali?
Answer: Cold outdoor and indoor sports are becoming more popular. The Frisbee golf club was established last year and alsoMessuranta is coming soon.
 
3.Has participation in sports decreased?
Answer: It has decreased for children and young people.
 
4.Have some sports offerings had to be discontinued? 
Answer: Adult day activities have decreased and also in team sports the team sizes have also decreased, but otherwise no.
 
5. How are different sports advertised to young people? What methods are used to encourage young people to participate in sports?
Answer: Advertising is done through various channels, but people hope for a single account. Facebook, Wilma messages, brochures, city website, bulletin board and youth pass are different ways we advertise different sports opportunities to people of Naantali.
 

6. What are the most popular sports?

Answer: Parkour, skateboarding and hobby clubs are becoming more and more popular. From club activities: ice and field hockey are popular. Visual and manual arts and padel are also really popular in Naantali among the young people.
 

7. Has there been a decline or increase in a particular sport (number of participants)?

Answer: The number of ringette players has decreased.
 

8. How can young people who are interested in a particular sport get in touch with the sports department? 

Answer: You can contact the clubs directly.

 

9. How do Naantali's sports facilities compare to those in other nearby municipalities (e.g. better/worse)?

Answer: Naantali has good facilities, but indoor training still needs improvement. Naantali should have more nature trails. New gyms, sports halls, and dance halls are coming to Naantali. The nature trail at Luolajärvi will be repaired.

 

10. What kind of collaboration do you have with schools?

Answer: We have collaborated with Naantali’s schools through Messages on Wilma, by meeting with student councils and by meeting with   different schools’ students and teachers and through a school program called LiikkuvaKoulu.
 

11. What can we expect in the future?

Answer: New sports facilities are coming and also school programs are being revived. We are continuing to collaborate with Naantali’s schools and get ideas from them. A person for whom one could come and talk to i.e. sports counseling is also to be expected. Improving swimming instruction and water rescue are our priorities.