The suspense surrounding the next MOVE Congress location did not last long on the final day of this year’s event, as ISCA made a surprise reveal at the closing that the next host will be DGI in Denmark in 2025. The MOVE Congress 2025 is set to coincide with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
DGI President Charlotte Bach Thomassen, took to the stage at the closing of the MOVE Congress in Madrid to be part of the announcement. Bach Thomassen said that DGI embraces the opportunity to host the world’s biggest conference dedicated to grassroots sport and physical activity, for which DGI is the umbrella association in Denmark.
“It is important that we in Denmark take the lead in setting the agenda for grassroots sport internationally,” she said. “We need to share Danish best practice in organising sport for all and sport club culture, and we can also learn from other countries in this field.”
Denmark hosted the very first MOVE Congress in 2009, and the 12th edition will mark the third occasion that the Scandinavian country welcomes over 400 grassroots sport and physical activity professionals to this international conference.
The Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union presents an opportunity to “boost the political and practical value of the MOVE Congress”, according to the Secretary General of the organisation behind the MOVE Congress, the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA), Jacob Schouenborg.
At the ISCA General Assembly and Elections on 18 November in Madrid, following the MOVE Congress, the ISCA Latin America Chair Maria Luiza Souza Dias also announced the next edition of MOVE Congress Latin America will be hosted by SESC Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil in 2024. The 2022 edition in Rio was a huge success, combined with MOVE Week on the continent (Semana Muévela).
Here is a preview of MOVE Congress Latin America in Manaus.
Denmark and DGI to host MOVE Congress 2025
The suspense surrounding the next MOVE Congress location did not last long on the final day of this year’s event, as ISCA made a surprise reveal at the closing that the next host will be DGI in Denmark in 2025. The MOVE Congress 2025 is set to coincide with the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. DGI President Charlotte Bach Thomassen, took to the stage at the closing of the MOVE Congress in Madrid to be part of
Shaping up for the digital age: AI implications and opportunities for the non-profit sport sector
The MOVE Congress 2023 workshop ‘Fit for the digital age’ was a fun-filled hour and a half of learning the basics of artificial intelligence (AI) and how non-profit sport organisations can benefit from its different capabilities. Led by Lucy Mills, founder of Ready Sport Global (READY), Markus Schwaiger, former ISCA Youth Officer and tour guide based in Austria, and Julia Lisewska, ISCA Youth Officer in Communications, the workshop made a case for the responsible and ethical use of AI in
Cracking the code for a healthy childhood in a tech-driven world
In a world dominated by technology and a sedentary lifestyle, the task to ensure every child has the opportunity to enjoy a healthy childhood has never been more pressing. At the MOVE Congress on 17 November, Helen Vost from Youth Sport Trust International moderated a one hour and 30-minute masterclass about the ‘FUNdamentals of a healthy childhood’, where the speakers highlighted the necessity for collective action to create a more active and safe environment for children. As Gregor Starc from the
Grassroots Esports debate turned into a hot seat for panellists!
The third day of the MOVE Congress 2023 brought various insightful discussions, masterclasses, debates and talks touching upon topics such as placemaking, mental health, digitalisation and a healthy childhood. It also invited participants to step out of their cosy comfort-zones and open their minds to the virtual arena of (grassroots) esports. In the landscape of modern entertainment, esports and gaming have emerged not purely as pastimes, but as cultural phenomena shaping the way we interact, compete and even learn. What
A deep dive into the Icehearts approach to supporting children’s mental and physical wellbeing
In the (post-)COVID era, approximately 20-25% of youth are suffering from mental health problems and, when combined with the persistent trend of insufficient physical activity among 80% of adolescents, this poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of children and youth. But wait, there's good news – an initiative called Icehearts is leading the way, doing its best to nurture both sides of this wellbeing coin! At the MOVE Congress on 16 November, experts from Icehearts Finland, Kai Tarvainen
Discovering the lingua franca of integration of refugees through sport
In a constantly changing world, an estimated 114 million displaced people (including almost 40 million refugees) are escaping conflicts, violation of human rights, persecution or natural disasters. Despite the different circumstances in the affected countries and continents hosting these people, one thing remains the same: sport represents a unique power to support these people to adapt and integrate in their new cultures and societies. Hence, on 16 November at the MOVE Congress, participants interested in the topic of integration of
How can sport better serve society in times of crisis? Five key takeaways from a panel discussion organised by sportanddev and ISCA
The world faces a range of intersecting crises, including escalating conflicts, climate change, a cost-of-living crisis, and recovery from Covid-19. At the MOVE Congress on 16 November, sportanddev organised a panel discussion on how sport can respond, in partnership with the conference organiser, the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA). The discussion was moderated by David Given-Sjölander, founder and strategic advisor at GS Consultancy. He was joined by three panellists, Haneen Khatib (sport for development consultant – sportanddev/GIZ), Etsuko Yamada (Japan
When people and sport power combine: how grassroots sport leaders can collaborate for better planetary health
Karim Abu-Omar’s keynote presentation on “grassroots sports and planetary health” led the way for a full day of conversations around sustainability in sport at the MOVE Congress 2023 on 16 November, which continued through a dynamic panel with leaders in the sector and a hands-on workshop to practice what was learned. The world is facing a climate crisis of great dimensions, but there are still great tools at hand to tackle it, and grassroots sport could be one of the
It takes a village to raise a child – an African proverb that could help us adopt a more child-centred approach
The African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” provided a framework for the MOVE Congress panel discussion on 16 November that added the keywords “health and happy” to the title. Both the original and extended phrase encapsulate the idea that a child's wellbeing and development are influenced by a community that is much broader than their immediate family. This concept emphasises the collective responsibility of society in supporting children to grow into happy, healthy individuals. The village represents
Outstanding initiatives and role models in physical activity and health awarded at MOVE Congress opening
This year’s winners of the ISCA Awards recognising and celebrating outstanding initiatives and role models in the field of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) have been revealed at the opening of the MOVE Congress in Madrid, Spain. The 12 shortlisted nominees travelled from three continents to attend the ceremony, after having been selected for their stand-out applications among 55 eligible organisations and individuals nominated. Brazilian organisation Luta pela Paz won the Physical Activity and Mental Health Award; Youth Sport Trust UK’s Move