Norwegian organisation Akershus Idrettskrets visits Nekla!

18-21 March 2007 four representatives of Norwegian sports organization Akershus Idrettskrets came to Nekla. Their visit in Nekla is connected with realization of the project "New, effective ideas to realize the ancient saying: In healthy body healthy soul" during which the municipality of Nekla started cooperation with Norwegian organization. The aim of the project is preparing necessary documents and working out suitable assumptions for programme developing physical activity among children coming from municipality of Nekla area. The main part of the programme called "Nekla - ready, steady, go!" concerns building of free access recreation areas for children. To achieve this aim an application form will be sent to the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism(EEA FM NFM). Financing of the present project is done from the Initial Capital Fund which is a specified part of EEA FM and NFM and contribution of municipality of Nekla. Thanks to Norwegian Partner we have a bigger chance to gain means to achieve the goal.
Akershus Idrettsskrets is non government organization one of 19 local organizations concentrated in Norwegian Olympic Committee and Sport Confederation. The aims and activities of the organization concern organization of structures for sports clubs, trainings, realization and implementation of strategies and projects promoting sport. According to numbers given it is easy to see that such work is successful. There are about 500.000 inhabitants in Akershus County and 203.000 of them go in for sport in active way. There are also 700 sports clubs. One can easily count that over 40% of the inhabitants go for sport.
On the first day of the visit (18 March) during a solemn supper a special agreement was signed concerning cooperation within the project and propagating the idea of sport and tourism especially among children and young people with taking handicapped people in consideration. The agreement also apply to development of sports clubs which work on the basis of voluntary system as well as youth exchange using sport as the tool in raising cultural awareness.
The agreement was signed by the Nekla's Mayor Marian Balicki and The President of Akershus Idrettskrets Sven Maamoen.

Next day (Monday) two Norwegian sport equipment experts Torgeir Berg and Jorn Haakensven visited the places where building of recreation areas was planned. They also disscused the matters with the architect of the project. Meanwhile, the other two Norwegian guests Sven Maamoen and Johan Conradson took part in discussion concerning the project of physical activity development among young people in Nekla. After those meetings both teams met on presentation of projects of buildings and models made by children and young people which received wide recognition. Next two of the Norwegian visitors Torgeir Berg and Jorn Haakensven left Nekla and went to Warsaw to catch a plane to Oslo. The remaining two had a chance to visit Poznań - the capital city of Wielkopolska region.
Tuesday was very busy day. Most of it was spent on working on the project of physical activity development among young people with a short break for a wind orchestra, dancing club and aerobic demonstrations in sports hall. Unfortunately we had to cancel a bicycle trip planned for afternoon due to snow. We took advantage of the remaining time to preliminary application form to FM EEA and NFM.
On forth and the last day of the visit there was a meeting of Norwegian partners and local non government organizations. Each organization presented its activities. There were also initial discussions about cooperation with indoor football club. After the meeting the guests had a chance to see how Polish students celebrate the First Day of Spring during the demonstration in the sports hall.
The visit of Akershus Idrettskrets was a success, the guests emphasized that they felt well in Nekla and they appreciated all the things they saw. They thanked for nice welcome. Leaving Nekla they knew that the visit was a great beginning of cooperation in cultural exchange and most important in promoting sport and creating sports clubs which may function o n the basis of volunteers like in Norway where 99% of sports clubs work in this way.
After a few days I got a sms form Sven in which he wrote that he strongly believes that certain authorities will give funds to our joint project and that we have to trust the combination of Małysz and Jacobsen is a symbol of victory.

Przemysław Prałat