Sports associations in Norg join forces and offer their members a free sports pass. This allows them to try out other sports for free.
From judo to survival run and pilates, shuffleboard and much more. All sports clubs in Norg are participating in the initiative, which will start on 1 October. This month, all members of the existing associations in the village will receive a letter on the mat with the sports pass. This gives athletes access to two extra hours of sports per week and various short courses in the coming sports year. Norwegians who are not members of a sports club can purchase the pass for 50 euros.
Improve collaboration
The project comes from the foundation Beweegdorp Norg. “The sports pass exists in several places, but I think this set-up is unique,” says Afien Auwema of Beweegdorp Norg. The foundation is committed to getting more people to exercise, but is also committed to maintaining association life in the village.
The sports pass is not only a trial to improve the mutual cooperation of the associations, but also a way to investigate whether there is a need for new sports. “For example, we offer a mountain biking course for beginners. A lady from Een has also joined us, she has just started a yoga school.”
Ambitious
“We all think this is a very ambitious project, which we are all very excited about at the same time. We thought it would be a shame to invest money in research first, so we’re just going to try it”, Auwema explains. Those who register after receiving the sports pass will receive an access link for the app that contains the monthly changing programme.
People can sign up through the app. In some cases this can easily be done with an existing training. But in team sports such as football, it is more difficult. “We have agreed with the football association that they will organize an hour for people who have not played football before,” Auwema explains.
Reach
Beweegdorp Norg focuses with the trial on fellow villagers who are already sporting because of the reach of the sports associations. “We hope that all those people who get the pass for free will bring family, friends and neighbors,” she says. Another reason for the choice is that the associations bear a large part of the costs of the project.
Associations that set up new training courses or courses receive a small fee in return. The remaining amount for the project, including for the development of the app and advertising, comes from subsidies from the Noordenveld municipality and the Norg business club. The Business Circle Norg is also participating in the promotion, athletes receive a discount on healthy offers.
Guess
“Of course, the question is whether people have time to exercise for an extra hour. We feel that we are doing people a favor with it. But it’s a gamble, I admit,” says Auwema. The associations evaluate progress every three months, and around Christmas they want to decide whether the sports pass will receive a (paid) follow-up. “As far as I am concerned, it is successful if it brings extra members to the clubs. It would also be nice if new things emerged from it.”
The passes are already for sale via the website of Bewegingdorp Norg. A number of free passes are available for families with a small wallet.