Children and young people should be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day, advises the Norwegian Health Authority. Nevertheless, screen time increases and Norwegian children are far less active the older they get, national mapping surveys show. Physical inactivity is Norway’s biggest public health challenge, and more activity both at school and in leisure time is part of the solution, believes the athletics president.
– Our children need more movement, and public health and physical activity go hand in hand. TINE relay is not just a big sporting event; it is an important event to promote enjoyment of sport and inspire our children to be active and have good habits from an early age. In today’s (sedentary) society, this is more important than ever, says athletics president Anne Farseth.
Energy out, energy in
In connection with this year’s TINE Relay, Respons Analyze has carried out a survey on behalf of TINE which shows that only half of parents feel that their children have a large outlet for their energy during a school day. Four out of five parents experience obstacles to being able to give their children a healthy diet. The most common obstacles are time pressure (45 per cent experience this), costs (36 per cent) and easy access to unhealthy products (34 per cent).
– Physical activity is good for children and young people. In addition, it is important to fill up with energy throughout a long school day, and both before and after training. Growing children and young people need a lot of energy and need food from different food groups. By eating varied food, you ensure that the body gets access to all the necessary building blocks, says clinical nutritionist Christina Ose in Sunn idrett, which is part of the Norwegian Sports Confederation.
Her best tip for the food package is quite simple:
– Regardless of whether you’re going to have a long school day or run the TINE relay, you need to top up. Make yourself something that is both good and nutritious. It can be rolls or slices of bread with cheese and ham, yogurt with grains and fruit, smoothie, milk or juice. Here, only the imagination sets limitations.
Important for growing bodies
For over 30 years, the TINE Relay has brought together pupils from 6th to 9th grade for a day filled with sporting joy. It is one of Norway’s largest sports events, where 1.8 million students have run since its inception in 1993.
– Physical activity and a healthy diet are two important pillars for children and young people’s development, learning and well-being. For TINE, physical activity and nutritious food are central, and we support all initiatives that promote a healthy and active everyday life. That is why the TINE Relay, together with all the local schools, is an important meeting point for children and young people across the country, says CEO of TINE, Ann-Beth Freuchen.
You are welcome to attend an event nearby.
An overview of all events can be found here
Facts about the TINE Relay:
- The TINE Relay is organized all over the country in May, with the main focus on 7 May.
- The number of participants this year is close to 100,000, at 336 locations across the country
- In 1993, the Norwegian Athletics Association approached TINE to sponsor an athletics relay in schools.
- TINE joined this collaboration to motivate increased physical activity and awareness of diet among young people.
- The TINE relay has become one of the world’s largest relays, and is carried out in several countries.
- There are ten participants on each team, who run 200 meters each.
- Read and find the nearest relay at https://www.tine.no/tinestafetten
