HOW TO DEVELOP LOCAL PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY PROMOTION PROGRAMS WITH NATIONAL SUPPORT - THE FINNISH EXPERIENCE

Stimulated by recent research findings regarding the health effects of physical activity, an extensive policy development for sports and for health took place in Finland in the early 1990s resulting in two nati onal programmes. The 'Finland on the Move' programme's aim was to stim ulate new local projects by financial support, training and consultati on services, and media promotion. The evaluation of the programme list ed several general characteristics of successful local projects. The o ngoing 'Fit for Life: programme is based on the experience gained from the previous programme, but is focused mostly on the 40-60-year-olds as a target group, and utilises a more intensive mass media approach. It is concluded that the two programmes have been successful in creati ng plenty of new local initiatives and increasing population participa tion related to physical activity. The Finnish experience demonstrates that deliberate efforts to communicate scientific knowledge can lead to a better acceptance of physical activity on the national level and that well-planned and sensitive state-level support of grassroots acti vities can succeed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.