Denmark capitalised on the coincidence of Men’s Health Week with the World Cup under the slogan: ‘Football is healthy, especially if you play it.’
The Week's activities earned backing from all political parties. The equality minister Lykke Friis was among the speakers at an event on Kastrup Beach near Copenhagen (pictured right top).
Meanwhile, Jesper Fisker, the Director General of the Danish National Board of Health presented the Men’s Health Week prize to Peter Krustrup, associate professor at the Institute of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen (right bottom) for his research (supported by the Danish Ministry of Culture, the Danish Football Association, and FIFA) showing that football as an exercise can be an effective weapon against lifestyle diseases.
‘I'm extremely happy to receive this award and I regard it as a huge pat on the back for the department and the whole international research team,’ said Krustrup, whose work has shown that football helps fight obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and high blood pressure.
