A new organisation to boost Nordic Walking internationally
A new international organisation, the International Council of Nordic Walking (ICNW), has been established to promote Nordic Walking. Finnish sports and exercise medicine professionals founded the ICNW, a development, co-operation and expert organisation whose aim is to boost this versatile and effective, but often underappreciated, form of exercise. The charter of this association has been signed by pioneers of Nordic Walking, sports counsellors Leena Jääskeläinen and Tuomo Jantunen; exercise researchers Tiina Arrankoski and Tuomo Kettunen, who have operated for several years in many countries for the development and education work of Nordic Walking; professor emeritus, Ilkka Vuori, MD, PhD, who is an internationally highly accomplished researcher of health promotion research, medical specialist in clinical physiology and exercise medicine; and the newly-elected chairman of the association, Mika Venojärvi, PhD, from the University of Eastern Finland.
“The purpose of the association is to first and foremost globally promote all scientific research, education and co-operation projects connected to Nordic Walking, but also to advance the sport in Finland,” says the ICNW Chairman Mika Venojärvi.
Venojärvi, a university lecturer in exercise medicine at the University of Eastern Finland, has conducted research on the health effects of Nordic Walking during recent years, and the results of a research group lead by him have been published in international scientific journals. The studies have indicated that a number of significant health benefits can be achieved through Nordic Walking in middle-aged men who are at a high risk for diabetes.
Suomalainen sauvakävely (‘Finnish pole walking’) is a form of exercise developed in Finland, known around the world as Nordic Walking. According to Venojärvi, the sport has so far been an underappreciated form of exercise, whose value and potential has not been fully acknowledged and understood and, therefore, has not been sufficiently utilised.
“Research activities connected to Nordic Walking have been fragmented, even conflicting.”
“However, Nordic Walking is undoubtedly an excellent form of exercise that professionals have developed to be even more versatile in recent years. We find that it truly deserves more attention, support and international collaboration.”
As Nordic Walking is a form of exercise developed in Finland, it was only natural that a group of representatives of Finnish sports and exercise science professionals decided to establish this new type of organisation to boost Nordic Walking both in Finland and internationally, Venojärvi says.
“The idea is to involve sports sector organisations, scientists, universities and other educational institutions in the association’s activities, but also to reach companies and individual Nordic Walkers from all over the world.”
For further information, please contact:
Mika Venojärvi, tel. +358403552248
ICNW – International Council of Nordic Walking
m.venojarvi@nordicwalkingcouncil.com
www.NordicWalkingCouncil.com
