The first ever European-wide Healthy Stadia conference takes place in Liverpool, England in September.
Funded by the European Union in the framework of the Public Health Programme, the one day event on Monday 21 September 2009 at the Arena and Convention Centre is aimed at sporting stadia and club representatives concerned with facilities management, corporate and social responsibility and community engagement and education across Europe. It will be followed by a Conference Dinner at Anfield, home of the world famous Liverpool Football Club.
So what has this got to do with men’s health?
The performers in sports stadia are among the fittest in the world but the environments in which they perform are far from healthy with the result that vast armies of men are spending long periods of time following their favourite sports in unhealthy surroundings. Catering can be poor; security is non-existant or, sometimes, a positive liabilility; racism and other anti-social and aggressive behaviour are still common. Many stadia of big sports clubs are oases of prosperity set in the middle of deprived communities – community engagement and corporate social responsibility is much needed.
This event, to mark the launch of the European Healthy Stadia network, will address these issues.
The conference programme will include presentations from EU directorates which have funded the Programme, UEFA, and representatives from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. Speakers from sporting stadia across Europe will also attend to highlight examples of best practice.
The European Healthy Stadia Programme is funded by the EU’s Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, and is a genuine trans-Europe partnership. Associate Partner agencies include:
- Heart of Mersey, UK (Lead Partner)
- Andalusian Centre for Sport and Medicine, Spain
- Galway Healthy Cities Project, Ireland
- Haig Associates, UK
- International Sport Projects Association, Finland
- Medical University Lodz, Poland
- Municipal Enterprise for Social Welfare, Greece
- Public Health Agency, Latvia
- University of East London, UK
- University of Pavia, Italy
Further Information:
