Auckland takes a lead in Active Citizens Worldwide

Aktive - Auckland Sport & Recreation (Aktive) has signed Auckland to Active Citizens Worldwide (ACW), joining London and Singapore as founding cities.

A ground-breaking new global initiative, ACW has been created with the aim of getting millions of people more active in cities around the world. The project looks to achieve a positive step-change in the physical activity levels of citizens, through multi-city collaboration, best-practice sharing and global benchmarking.

Dr Sarah Sandley, Chief Executive Officer, Aktive says the organisation is looking forward to contributing to worldwide systematic data capture, benchmarking, and analysis of drivers of physical activity in cities.

"Aktive is committed to helping people and communities across Auckland to achieve sport and recreation habits for life," says Dr Sandley.

"To do this we work with partners to use local expertise, case studies, insights and good practices from other projects. ACW will create a multi-city, multi-year benchmarking and analysis platform that can provide cities with data-driven insights, policy recommendations, and initiatives that will help make a significant impact on their activity levels."

Dr Sandley adds: "This will assist with actionable insights and monitoring that will further support Aktive and its partners with practical initiatives to deliver growth in physical activity. Our involvement in ACW will provide another valuable tool that will assist us here on the ground in Auckland."

In signing Auckland up to ACW, Aktive joins London Sport, an organisation developed to help make London happier, healthier and stronger through sport. Like Aktive, London Sport does this by working in partnership with the numerous organisations involved in physical activity and sport in its area. Sport Singapore (SportSG) is the national sports agency for Singapore and aims to inspire the Singapore spirit and transform Singapore through sport.

Commenting on the launch of Active Citizens Worldwide, Tove Okunniwa, Chief Executive, London Sport says: "Active Citizens Worldwide offers an exciting opportunity to broaden our understanding of what drives participation in cities across the globe. Strong insight and data are vital to effective decision-making for physical activity and sport, and the Active Citizens Worldwide initiative will afford tremendous opportunities to learn from and share global best-practice.

"We are delighted to make London a part of this international community and look forward to working with Auckland, Singapore and other counterparts in further cities as Active Citizens Worldwide grows throughout 2018."

Dr Chiang Hock Woon, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Sport Singapore says: "Sport Singapore is privileged to be one of three founding cities of the Active Citizens Worldwide project. As part of our Vision 2030 sports master plan, we are committed to adopt sport as a strategy to encourage our people to lead healthier, better and fulfilling lives. We look forward to a successful collaboration through sharing insights and best practices. We hope that this movement will encourage like-minded cities to also be part of this in future."

As a regional strategic leader, Aktive is responsible for the investment of public funds through delivery partners, organisations and projects that get more people recreating and playing sport in Auckland, with focuses on young people and identified communities.

ENDS

About Aktive - Auckland Sport & Recreation

Aktive - Auckland Sport & Recreation is a charitable trust that has been established to make Auckland the world’s most active city. It is a key strategic partner of Sport NZ, Auckland Council and major grant makers and funders. Aktive invests more than $11m per annum in a range of delivery partners, organisations and projects that will get more people recreating and playing sport in Auckland, with focuses on young people and identified communities.

For more information visit http://aktive.org.nz

About London Sport

London Sport aims to make London the most physically active city in the world. Supported by the Mayor of London and Sport England, our target is to get 1,000,000 Londoners more physically active by 2020.

London Sport has five strategic objectives:

- Make it easier for Londoners to find the right activity, remain in it and achieve their potential

- Get more resources by making the best use of what we have, while securing more

- Support grassroots organisations by making the sector simpler and better

- Create a bigger and better workforce to support activity

- Harness the power of elite sport to create sustained grassroots activity and inspire the next generation of talent

For more information, visit www.londonsport.org

About SportSG

As the national sports agency, Sport Singapore’s core purpose is to inspire the Singapore spirit and transform Singapore through sport. Through innovative, fun and meaningful sporting experiences, our mission is to reach out and serve communities across Singapore with passion and pride. With Vision 2030 - Singapore’s sports master plan, our mandate goes beyond winning medals. Sport Singapore uses sport to create greater sporting opportunities and access, more inclusivity and integration as well as broader development of capabilities. At Sport Singapore, we work with a vast network of public-private-people sector partners for individuals to live better through sports.

To find out more, visit our websites www.sportsingapore.gov.sg and www.myactivesg.com

Follow us at www.facebook.com/SingaporeSports and www.youtube.com/SingaporeSports.

About Active Citizens Worldwide

Active Citizens Worldwide (ACW) is a global initiative set up to help cities across the world achieve a positive step-change in the physical activity levels of its citizens, through multi-city collaboration, best-practice sharing and global benchmarking. ACW will provide world cities with a deep, fact-based understanding of what drives activity levels of citizens in cities.

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