Several players are coming together to build new year-round facilities throughout the region. The facilities will contribute to more activity and more meeting places for children and young people, which will be an important measure for public health.
The aim of the project “Skiing and activity facilities in Trøndelag and Møre and Romsdal” is to give all children and young people the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities in their own local environment. The year-round facilities will also function as social meeting places in the local community.
Through the investment, up to 20 year-round facilities for skiing and cycling will be built around Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal in the coming years.
The project is a collaboration between the Norwegian Ski Association, the ski circuits in Trøndelag and Møre and Romsdal, Trøndelag County Municipality, SpareBank 1 SMN, and the Norwegian Cycling Association.
– We have great faith in this project, and must first of all thank Sparebank 1 and Trøndelag County Council for a fantastic contribution to activity among children and young people. At the same time, we are entering into a historic collaboration with the Cykleforbundet with the view that the facilities will be built for year-round use, says ski president Tove Moe Dyrhaug.
Facilities for everyone
Today, there is a lack of activity facilities in central Norway that can be used all year round. In the construction of the new year-round facilities, there will be a major focus on facilitating self-organised sports and physical activity. The terrain must be suitable for both skiing, cycling and other activities.
In order to get funds to build, there will also be a requirement for visitors to be able to borrow equipment near the facilities, so that everyone has the opportunity to participate without having to buy their own.
– The Norwegian Cycling Association is very happy about this collaboration on year-round facilities in central Norway. Collaborating on facilities that can be used all year round is sustainable, and for NCF this is a welcome offer for play and training by bike. Such facilities will be a good and important arena for those who want to engage in self-organized and organized cycling as an activity, says vice-president of the Norwegian Cycling Association, Atle Kvålsvoll.
Important for public health
Trøndelag County Council sees this collaborative project as a public health initiative, where we get new meeting places where children and young people can be active all year round. The county committee decided to join the venture on 12 December 2023.
– By having a local environment that is well organized for activity and open meeting places, we contribute to strengthening both the physical and mental health of the population, smoothing out social differences and creating a good environment for growing up, says Jan Grønningen, head of the main committee for culture in Trøndelag county municipality .
A prerequisite for the county committee to join the project was that an external actor stepped in as a co-financier. It is now clear that this player will be SpareBank 1 SMN.
Head of social benefits in SpareBank1 SMN, Hilde Sem Lykke, is looking forward to seeing the results of the project.
– We encourage children and young people to have opportunities to play and develop in their immediate environment. The project to build year-round facilities around the region contributes both to good public health and stronger community. It is gratifying to see what we can achieve when we work together, concludes Sem Lykke.
Can apply to join
Municipalities, teams and associations can eventually apply to join the project. Information about the application scheme will be provided at a later date. Those who are selected will receive advice and support to ensure that the facilities are built according to certain criteria.
The requirements include that the facilities must be open and accessible all year round, function as attractive meeting places, be located where people live, have a good design and a sustainable operating model.
Those involved in the project must also share knowledge and experiences with other municipalities, teams and associations that want to learn more about the process by building similar facilities. INInformation about the application deadline and criteria will be published in good time.
