Extensive online consultation on sports and physical activity launched
The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Sports Council have launched an extensive online consultation on physical activity and world-class sports as part of the preparation of a Government report on sports policy. The online questionnaire will be open until 28 March.
"We need to conduct a thorough discussion on the significance and development of sports and physical activity and have a broad range of actors in the field of sports and physical activity, decision-makers and ordinary citizens involved in it," Minister for Sport Sampo Terho says.
"The online consultation now launched is intended for all. We hope that people from different age and population groups, having different perspectives and views on sports and physical activity, will find the questionnaire and respond to it. The sports policy report currently being prepared is the first one in history, so this is a historical opportunity for each and every citizen to participate in the development of Finnish sports and physical activity."
The report will outline Government's sports policy objectives and measures for the upcoming years. In connection with the report, Parliament will have a profound discussion about questions related to the development and significance of sports and physical activity in society.
The consultation is expected to bring up new perspectives, development ideas and needs concerning physical activity in its different forms, for example everyday physical activity. Furthermore, the perspectives of independent and guided sport hobbies, competitive sports and recreational sports are covered. The consultation deals extensively also with the development of world-class sports.
The online questionnaire will be available in Finnish, Swedish and English. The Swedish and English versions will be opened on the week beginning 12 March. The questionnaire will be open until 28 March. The Ministry and the Sports Council wish that information about the consultation would be spread to a broad spectrum of different networks.
The online consultation is only one part of the preparation of the sports policy report. To gain a deeper understanding of these questions, the Ministry of Education and Culture will gather views and opinions on the current state and development needs of sports culture in interaction with stakeholders.
Free-form opinions and views on the theme may also be sent to the Ministry of Education and Culture by email ([email protected]). Furthermore, the University of Jyväskylä will draw up an extensive research review to serve as background material for the report.
Inquiries:
Toni Ahva, Special Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. + 358 2953 30340
Esko Ranto, Director General, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 3 30115, [email protected]
Tiina Kivisaari, Director, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 3 30178, [email protected]
Minna Paajanen, Secretary General, Finnish National Sports Council, tel. +358 295 3 30239, [email protected]