Sports specialists from Lithuanian regions deepened their knowledge in organizing recreational sport
Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) continues participation in an international project “Cooperation and Capacity-Building of Institutions Acting in the Field of Sports Education of Lithuania and Norway”. It involves eighteen partners from Lithuania (sports and cultural centres in districts and cities) and a partner from abroad – Norwegian School of Sport Science. The project is being carried out by Lithuanian Sports University.
Sports and wellness experts from Norwegian School of Sport Science Prof. Jostein Hallen and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Per Oystein Hansen visited Lithuania this time. The guests delivered theoretical lectures and conducted workshops to the representatives of sports and cultural centres of Lithuanian districts and cities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Per Oystein Hansen shared his knowledge on organizing recreational sport for youth in Norway and later on invited to carry out a practical task in groups – to model the adaptation and implementation of the peculiarities of Norwegian sports education in Lithuania.
Prof. Jostein Hallen shared his experience on how people of all ages are included in physical activities in Norway. When asked how the Norwegians are struggling with today's threats to people's physical activity (sedentary lifestyle, computers, TV, etc.) the Professor gave the answer that Norwegians do not have a strategy, but they have culture that is introduced to the children at an early age, setting an example in the family. An active discussion among the lecturers and project participants finished the training.
At the end of April, wellness and sports recreation specialists from Norway are coming to Lithuania. Together with the representatives from LSU, they will visit different regions of Lithuania where they will carry out practical trainings and introduce the most popular physical activities in Norway. Sports coaches and healthy lifestyle specialists working in regions will take over the best practice to encourage their community members lead active lives in a proper way with no harm to health.
In November, sports and cultural centre representatives from 18 Lithuanian municipalities went on almost a week-long internship in Norway. They learned how to successfully involve local communities in a variety of sports and wellness activities and thereby improve the quality of life. The specialists also visited Norwegian community centres and sports and wellness clubs. Norway is one of the European leaders in the implementation of the regional sports policy, so the experience of this country is relevant to Lithuania.
The project is carried out under the programme “Capacity-building and Institutional Cooperation between Beneficiary State and Norwegian Public Institutions, Local and Regional Authorities” and is funded by Norwegian Financial Mechanism “Norway Grants”.
