Getting people moving!

LATE BIRD pricing 270 € members / 320 € nonmembers including 25.5% VAT

On 21–22 April 2026, IAKS Nordic is hosting the conference “Getting people moving!” at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium to tackle a challenge we all recognise: formal sport is strong, but everyday movement in our countries continues to decline.

• How do we get more people moving? What drives people towards self-organised and informal activity?

• How can we better create and renovate facilities so that more people become more active?

• How can we use nature and various business models to lower the barriers and create sustainable, long-term movement?

• Why does more sport not necessarily mean more movement and activity? What can we do to change that?

Why You Should Attend

The conference will offer ample time and a unique opportunity for honest discussions with your Nordic peers. The "Getting people moving!" conference is designed to ensure you take home concrete ideas, tangible examples, and new contacts for your continued work.

Meet Nordic colleagues; researchers, planners, architects, and operators from the Nordics and the UK to listen to examples, reflect, and discuss proposed solutions on how we can achieve the public health goals set by authorities, which we currently struggle to meet. 

Helsinki’s Deputy Mayor, Paavo Arhinmäki, will open the conference.

Speaker line-up:

• Oliver Vanges, The Danish Foundation for Sports and Culture Facilities
• Lisa-Mari Watson, Tverga
• Stephen Dietz-Hodgson, JAJA Architects
• Petri Kontukoski, Kontukoski Architects
• ... and more to come

Tour of the Olympic Stadium

A tour of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium will be offered in conjunction with the conference. The Olympic Stadium was built in a Functionalist style and inaugurated in 1938 to host the 1940 Summer Olympics in Finland. However, the Second World War intervened, and it was not until 1952 that an Olympic Games was held at the venue. During the 21st century, the arena underwent extensive renovation. As part of the renovation, a brand new 20,000 square metre underground section was constructed.

Who Should Attend

If you are responsible for sport, facilities, urban development, or public health and wish to close the gap between growing sports systems and declining everyday activity, this event is for you. Reserve your place now to join us in Helsinki – spaces are limited (100 participants) to keep the conversations practical and interactive.

Who is IAKS Nordic

IAKS is a global non-profit network of experts in sports and leisure facilities. We are all passionate about developing inclusive, sustainable, and high-quality facilities to enable an active and sustainable society. The network aims to bring together individuals, organisations, authorities, institutions, and companies involved in the planning, design, construction, and operation of sports and leisure facilities for knowledge exchange, inspiration, and advice.

IAKS Nordic members - the regional area of IAKS Nordic is Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands and Åland Island- meet to share experiences, knowledge, and ideas via events, network meetings, and study trips, while also having the opportunity to participate in the global network with all its expertise.

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You do not have to be an IAKS member to attend the “Getting people moving!” conference, but to benefit from the network's full potential and other events, you need to be a member.

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