EUNAAPA at the European College of Sport Sciences Congress in Oslo (24-27-june 2009)

Under the inspiring leadership of Nina Waaler Loland, on Thursday three EUNAAPA members held presentations about physical activity projects in older people. Alfred Rütten started with a presentation about the policy work package of the EUNAAPA project, Marijke Hopman-Rock continued with a presentation about do’s and do not’s in trials among the elderly. Finally, Christophe Delecluse presented research from Belgium concerning the comparison of lifestyle interventions with exercise interventions. The symposium was attended by approximately 80 persons. Afterwards an interesting discussion with the audience was held.

In the beautiful surrounding of the Oslo University the steering committee meeting was held, attended by all members except Ellen Freiberger who was unfortunately not able to come. As an important result EDUCATION of intermediaries has been identified as a feature in the coming years. Besides Clemence Ross from the Dutch NISB, also David Brown from CDC in the USA and John Beard from the WHO in Geneva agreed to act as international advisors for EUNAAPA.  We also submitted as a consultation partner for the European Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity in 2012.

On Friday Marijke Hopman-Rock presented an invited paper in the symposium regarding the by ECSS requested position paper on behavioural change. This symposium was organised by Stuart Biddle (UK) in cooperation with Walter Brehm and Marijke. A big audience of 100-120 persons was present and people were very enthusiastic about the approach. The ECSS position statement will be published in the official journal of the ECSS (International Journal for Sport Sciences). Marijke covered the knowledge about behavioural change of older people (old and old-old respectively) and disseminated draft recommendations. It is possible to react on these draft recommendation by sending an email to Marijke (marijke.hopman@tno.nl).