The MOVE 2009 World Congress on Active Cities: Sport, Health & Citizenship
Copenhagen, Denmark from 21-24 October 2009.

A growing number of people live in bigger cities and urban areas. This raises several challenges in the fields of citizenship, recreation, health, physical activity and sport.

Citizens in urban areas are less physically active compared to general population averages. Many cities face the challenge to provide an appropriate environment and facilities that would motivate active lifestyles. The unfortunate consequences are that citizens in urban areas are often less active in their local community, are less engaged in voluntary work and do not enjoy the health benefits of regular physical activity. On the other hand worldwide trends such as break-dance, skateboarding, rollerblading, parkour originate and develop rapidly in urban areas. These unconventional ways of moving show new ways to approach the city and its people.

Cities are eager to meet these challenges. Some cities are developing their profile as “Active Cities”, “Healthy Cities” and “Sport for All Cities“.

The creation of an active urban environment including facilities for sport and physical activity and the involvement of citizens, requires a cross-sectoral approach.

MOVE2009 will inspire political leaders, business representatives, city administrators, recreation-, transport-, and urban-experts and sport associations with the latest trends in Active Cities and engage them in closer cooperation to qualify and expand their work focusing on physical activity in cities and urban areas.

“MOVE2009 provides rich opportunities to meet interesting professionals working in the field of sport, health and citizenship. The congress includes debate sessions and workshops and will feature a wide range of plenary session keynote speakers from WHO Europe, the Union of International Architects Sports and Leisure Group, European Citizen Action Service, international sports organisations as well as representatives from the European Commission and Active Cities from across the World.

The congress format builds on one hand on stimulating plenary presentations and debates drawing upon the latest research, trends and best practices and on the other hand uses focused workshops and dynamic debate groups to provide a programme that will enable participants to join forcefully into the challenges of Active Cities.”