Both initiatives want to promote sport and exercise among the Austrian population
Vienna (OTS) – On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the ORF and the Austrian sports associations ASKÖ, ASVÖ & SPORTUNION as well as the Healthy Austria Fund signed a cooperation agreement with the support of the Austrian Association of Municipalities. The aim is to motivate the Austrian population to exercise and sport and thus promote mental and physical health.
The ORF action day WE MOVE AUSTRIA was held for the first time on the national holiday in 2023, on which everyone in Austria was called upon to take part in a day of exercise. The participants were able to register their minutes of exercise, which resulted in around a million minutes of exercise.
From 2024, the ORF initiative WE MOVE AUSTRIA and the “50 Days of Exercise” initiative (in cooperation with the Healthy Austria Fund, Fit Sport Austria, ASKÖ, ASVÖ, SPORTUNION and VAVÖ) will join forces in order to work together to broaden the population to reach.
ORF General Director Mag. Roland Weißmann: “As a public broadcaster, the ORF also has a responsibility to promote sport and exercise among the Austrian population. With the movement initiative WE MOVE AUSTRIA, ORF is fulfilling this mandate and at the same time strengthening Austria as a sports location with this unique cooperation with the Austrian sports associations. The ORF media supports WE MOVE AUSTRIA as best as possible in order to reach as many people as possible in Austria for this special initiative. I would like to thank our partners who make this cooperation possible.”
Prof. Pius Strobl, ORF Head of Corporate Social Responsibility: “The two movement initiatives WE MOVE AUSTRIA and ’50 Days of Movement’ aim to bring the need for movement back into people’s awareness. Studies show that 80 percent of children and young people and one in two adults do not exercise enough. It is important that we take action to maintain our health for as long as possible. Being active together in sports is not only fun, but also promotes team spirit and solidarity – fundamental values of an inclusive society. Let’s work together to create a healthier, more connected community.”
Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Pressl, President of the Austrian Association of Municipalities: “Daily exercise is the best health and retirement precaution. On the one hand, the Austrian cities and communities offer running routes, sports facilities or hiking and leisure trails. And sports clubs work best in the community of communities, where you simply feel comfortable among like-minded people. Ultimately, precautionary measures also relieve the burden on health and care facilities and thus on all of us as taxpayers. The Austrian Association of Municipalities is therefore very happy to be a partner in the WE MOVE AUSTRIA campaign and wishes everyone who takes part that exercise is fun, diverse, inspires others, promotes community and, in the end, is sustainable and good for your own health.”
Mag. Veronika Dragon-Berger, deputy. Head of ORF Sport and Head of ORF SPORT +: “We have supported every exercise initiative on the part of ORF Sport from the beginning – starting with the daily gymnastics lesson together with the sports associations – and are looking forward to being part of it again this year after the successful start last year WE MOVE to be AUSTRIA. The sports channel ORF SPORT + now shows around five hours of live programming from over 75 different sports every day, thereby promoting the population’s interest in active sporting activities.”
“Healthy years of life in Austria are below average in the EU. On average, each local community has seven sports clubs. We need to work together across sectors to get more people moving. That’s why it’s important that the cooperation between public broadcasting, the FGÖ, the community association and organized sport is strengthened,” say ASVÖ President and Chairman FitSportAustria Christian Purrer, ASKÖ President Hermann Krist and SPORTUNION President Peter McDonald Some.
Dr. Klaus Ropin, head of the Healthy Austria Fund: “Exercise is one of the most important factors influencing health. According to the Austrian exercise recommendations for adults, just 150 minutes of exercise per week has a positive effect on health. We are pleased to support the WE MOVE AUSTRIA campaign with the ’50 Days of Exercise’ initiative and thus motivate more people in Austria to exercise across all sectors. Because: Every movement counts!”
About the actions of the two movement initiatives
Under the motto “Fit together. Get moving!”, sports clubs and communities across Austria are inviting people of all ages to take part in free exercise events, action days and taster courses for 50 days, from September 7th to October 26th, 2024. On the website www.gemeinsambewegen.at Those interested can choose from more than 1,000 free exercise offers and simply join in.
On October 26, 2024, everyone in Austria is called upon to become active in the ORF WE MOVE AUSTRIA initiative. It doesn’t matter whether you move alone or in a group, regardless of fitness level or age. The type of exercise can also be freely chosen; a hike or a walk counts, as does a run, a bike ride (also on a handbike) or a sporting group activity.