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Get moving with Friskis&Svettis: Vilnius Sports Festival welcomes pop-up gym experience from Sweden

2024 08 29

The Vilnius Sports Festival is set to host a special fitness experience from August 30 to September 1, 2024. The Swedish non-governmental sports organization Friskis&Svettis, known for its innovative approach to fitness, will introduce its mobile pop-up gym, offering Vilnius residents and visitors the chance to participate in a variety of engaging workouts. This unique opportunity is made possible by the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania, in partnership with the Vilnius Public Health Office "Vilnius Healthier."

Friskis&Svettis is a NGO founded in Stockholm in 1978, boasting more than 150 clubs across Sweden and beyond, and nearly half a million members. The organization’s mission is to deliver fun, affordable, and high-quality fitness experiences for all. Notably, when you become a member, you gain voting rights within the organization, allowing you to participate in decision-making processes. The majority of Friskis&Svettis’ operations are powered by volunteers, including almost 7,000 dedicated coaches.

A Nordic approach to fitness

Physical activity has deep roots in Nordic culture, and organizations like Friskis&Svettis play a crucial role in fostering this tradition. According to 2022 Eurobarometer data, only 12% of Swedes reported not engaging in any sport or exercise, compared to 53% of Lithuanians. Friskis&Svettis embodies core Nordic values such as accessibility, democracy, and volunteerism, providing a model that could inspire similar initiatives in Lithuania.

„Friskis&Svettis reflects the essential values of Nordic societies: accessibility, democracy, and volunteering,” said Helen Nilsson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania and a member of Friskis&Svettis. „The low membership fees and wide reach of the organization make fitness accessible to everyone, something that is often lacking in Lithuania, particularly in smaller towns. The principle of volunteering, where individuals actively contribute to the common good, is another cornerstone of Nordic society. This unique community culture not only promotes physical health but also strengthens social bonds.”

Aurelija Šiautkulienė, Acting Director of the Vilnius Public Health Office „Vilnius Healthier”, welcomes the cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania and the project, which not only promotes physical activity, but also disseminates the successful example of Swedish sports organisations on how to effectively involve the public in health activities: „As is well known, half of the deaths in this country are caused by cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, in order to increase not only the overall life expectancy of the population but also the healthy life expectancy, we need to focus especially on promoting healthy eating and physical activity in innovative formats and in line with best practices from other countries”.

A pop-up gym with a mission

The Friskis&Svettis pop-up gym initiative was launched in Sweden in response to declining physical activity and emotional well-being among young people. Housed in a shipping container, the pop-up gym travels to schools, offering students the opportunity to engage in workouts, learn how to exercise independently, and care for their emotional health.

Eldoras Rimša, programme coordinator at "Vilnius Healthier", visited Sweden in August to learn about the activities of Friskis&Svettis and the possibilities of using a mobile gym. "The container is equipped with all the necessary sports equipment, which allows us to organise various sports workouts  next to it. It's a real gym - outdoors only, and it's mobile, so it can go closer to the homes of people. Friskis&Svettis volunteer coaches maintain the equipment, organise training sessions and sports workshops for communities, and advise residents. This model is still quite new in Lithuania, so this is a great opportunity for Vilnius residents to come and get acquainted with such a modern gym."

At the Vilnius Sports Festival, the Friskis&Svettis pop-up gym, in collaboration with “Vilnius Healthier”, will offer a variety of activities, including the popular "Jympa" exercise for the whole family, circle training, and practical workshops on the correct use of fitness equipment, proper posture for children, and injury prevention. All activities are designed to be inclusive, catering to individuals of all ages and physical abilities. Participants can choose their preferred workout, register, and join the fun. The full timetable and registration details are available here.

The pop-up gym will be located in the field by the White Bridge, next to the trampoline park. After the festival, it will remain in Lithuania throughout September, traveling to Grigiškės and Žirmūnai beaches on September 2-14, where Vilnius Healthier will organize sports activities for local communities and schoolchildren. Later, the pop-up gym will make its way to Kaunas before concluding its stay in Lithuania at the Nordic-Baltic Youth Summit in Vilnius on September 27-28.

More information

Kornelija Kunigonytė

Kornelija Kunigonytė

Adviser for Communication

Lithuanian, English, Norwegian, Russian

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