Get Moving project launched, to motivate conscripts to exercise
Dubbed "Get Moving", a joint project by Patria and the Finnish Military Sport Federation was launched at the beginning of this year. The objective is to support the development of sport club activities for conscripts. The project aims to promote a sports-oriented lifestyle and improve young people's quality of life. The Guard Jaeger Regiment, stationed in Helsinki, has been put forward as a model unit with well-functioning sport clubs. The regiment was rewarded for its commitment at the Military Athlete of the Year ceremony on January 26 2011.
The three-year project "Get Moving" was concretely launched at the traditional Military Athlete of the Year ceremony. There Patria honoured the Guard Jaeger Regiment with an award in recognition of its achievement in developing sport club activities, getting conscripts involved in a variety of sports, and encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
”The joint Patria and Finnish Military Sport Federation project will reach all young people beginning their military service during the next three years. It will inspire them to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. We want their motivation to engage in physical exercise to remain strong also after they have completed their military service”, declares Jukka Holkeri, Chief Marketing Officer at Patria. Jukka Holkeri challenges all Finnish military training units to follow up the Guard Jaeger Regiment's award by starting up sport clubs and inspiring conscripts to engage in sport.
Physical exercises for a better quality of life
Patria and the Finnish Military Sport Federation signed a three-year agreement last autumn, aimed at developing sport club activities for conscripts.
”Social responsibility and continuous development form an important part of our work. These aspects are reflected in this project, which has important social consequences and far-reaching results. Taking care of the physical condition of young people is important and presents an opportunity to improve the quality of life of many, both in the short and long term", emphasises Holkeri.
Every training unit should have sport clubs
The purpose of the "Get Moving" project is to extend the Finnish Military Sport Federation's sport club activities to cover all Finnish military training units and conscripts. At present, only a dozen training units have sport clubs for conscripts. Some 5,000 conscripts annually participate in these clubs' activities.
Some clubs established by conscripts have been running since 1987. These clubs focus on sports in which the conscripts are interested, and are coached by the conscripts themselves. Training sessions for sport club leaders are attended by 150 conscripts per year. Conscripts gain valuable leadership experience from acting as sport club leaders.
For further details contact:
Chief Marketing Officer Jukka Holkeri, tel. 040 869 2008, [email protected]
Patria is an internationally operating aerospace and defence group delivering competitive solutions based on its in-house expertise and solid partnerships. Patria is owned by the State of Finland and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
