World authority bolsters the team
2010-01-28
Norwegian Lars Engebretsen (picture to the right), responsible for the medical research within the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is the latest member of the Executive Reference Group at The World Village of Women Sports.
Not only through his commitment to the Olympic cause but also through his specialist books and articles.
“More and more women are taking up sports but there is still no institute conducting research into the subject. There is, on the other hand, plenty of research for men. This new venture will improve knowledge of women’s sports, particularly in the areas of injury prevention and sport-related illnesses,” he says.
Mårten Hedlund, CEO of The World Village of Women Sports:
“It’s great to have Lars on the team. His expertise will bolster our reference group which, together with several sub-committees, will have a great deal of influence on the detailed design of the venue and the operation in general.”
Sport Science Committee
The highly qualified reference group is under development and will be presented in its entirety in spring 2010. The group’s sport committee is expected to contain representatives of ten or so sports associations.
Other authorities in the reference group include Bengt Saltin, Professor of Physiology and sport-related research, Harald Roos, Senior Lecturer and Chief Surgeon, Fredrik Nyquist, Orthopaedist, and Per Nilsson, Professor of Pedagogy.
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“A foundation that supports research”
2010-01-05
The initiators of The World Village of Women Sports are entrepreneurs Kent Widding Persson (picture below), Dan Olofsson and Mårten Hedlund. They see a host of possibilities for the brand and the non-profit foundation for co-financing the research and development.
The World Village of Women Sports Foundation wants to see research and development focusing on women sport and performance levels. An interim committee has been appointed, partly to propose ordinary members and partly to secure the financing of the first visiting professorships. Sitting on the interim committee is Per Nilsson, also Chairman of the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF).
“Per has sound experience of sport research so has plenty to offer. The interim committee is also made up of top calibre people from the private sector, sports movement and from the academic sport-medical sphere,” says Kent Widding Persson.
A radiant brand
The World Village of Women Sports brand is registered in most European countries and other places in the world. Licences can be issued to companies in different sectors with the surplus going directly to the foundation to be used for research and development.
Kent Widding Persson predicts close collaboration between the private sector and sporting world:
“By establishing R&D departments at the centre, the companies can fetch knowledge and inspiration from testing and product development, regardless of whether the product is food produce, medicine, sports equipment or whatever. By being here the companies show that they are in the forefront,” explains Kent Widding Persson, himself the owner of a company specialising in women’s products.
Footnote: The CIF has the task of initiating, coordinating, supporting and informing about the sport research.
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Region Skåne New Partner
2009-12-15
Region Skåne, the regional council for the Skåne province, has committed itself to the project from a public health and sport medicine perspective. During the first three months of 2010, Region Skåne, in close collaboration with the management of The World Village of Women Sports, will analyse the value of the venture. They will look into the ways in which the project can contribute to improving preventive care, more effective treatment and quicker rehabilitation. It is also important to retain and improve the medical expertise in the region.
Jerker Swanstein, Chair of the Regional Board:
- The project offers excellent opportunities for the whole of Scandinavia and therewith also us in Skåne. We will benefit in the medical sphere and private sector and, not least, the visitor industry.
Dan Olofsson, entrepreneur and one of the founders of The World Village of Women Sports:
“It feels good to have such strong backing from Region Skåne.”
In March, Region Skåne will be publishing its own enquiry into the extent to which the region will commit itself to the project.
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A study in research and development
2009-12-01
Qatar, the Persian Gulf. Oslo/Fornebu, Norway. Birmingham/Loughborough, UK. A study tour to make contacts and fetch inspiration and knowledge to The World Village of Women Sports; chiefly within research and development.
The study tours were conducted intermittently during 2009, with delegates from sport, research, universities, colleges and the private sector. Professor Bengt Saltin was responsible for choosing the locations and also took part in the visits to Qatar and England.
Qatar University has a sports programme. The emirate is also well-known for its excellent sports complex, Aspire Zone, and a first class sports medicine hospital, Aspetar, where research is conducted into sport and health.
Bengt Saltin, who has played a part in shaping the operations at Aspetar, says:
“Sport for girls and women is still not a matter of course in Muslim countries. Here The World Village of Women Sports has an important role to play. The project targets sportswomen all over the world, including the Muslim part.”
Cutting edge research
The study tour to the UK stopped off at the universities in Loughborough and Birmingham. The former is renowned for its applied research in collaboration with the sport world as well as the private sector, Adidas and Nike for example. Birmingham not only educates physical training instructors but also conducts sport research and collaborates with several large international companies.
“The research facilities are absolute world class. The World Village of Women Sports can fetch a lot of inspiration and knowledge from here,” says Bengt Saltin.
The visit to Norway took in the Elite Sports Centre in Oslo and the Telenor Arena in Fornebu. The former has divided its operations into Endurance, Technique and Team Sports so as to better support performance enhancement. The arena in Fornebu has a lot of ideas to offer with regard to alternating between sports events, concerts, events and expos.
The Elite Sports Centre impressed Kent Widding Persson, one of the founders of The World Village of Women Sports.
“The Norwegians bring together the research and sports worlds in a way that facilitates the application of new findings and raises the performance levels of athletes. I was also very impressed with the facilities in Qatar with regard to the set up and equipment. Truly exemplary!”
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The architectural assignment for The World Village of Women Sports® is concluded
2009-10-27
This summer five proposals from Nordic architecture firms for the design of The World Village of Women Sports® were presented. Now the selection committee* has recommended one proposal which shall be pursued. The recommendation is for the Danish architecture firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Groups) and their proposal ”Kronprinsessan” (The Crown Princess).
At The World Village of Women Sports®, the world's sportswomen have the chance to develop on their own terms. In total, 2 billion Swedish Kronor shall be invested in the property, which is to be built in the heart of Malmö.
The conceptual parts of The World Village of Women Sports® also include centres for sports medicine, university education within various fields connected to the sporting world and product development for industries such as nutrition, sports medicine and sport products etc.
BIG see The World Village of Women Sports® as a city within the city rather than a sports complex.
- This is an important step for the project and a design that fits the concept perfectly, says Mårten Hedlund, CEO and Co-founder.
Buildings, pavements and gardens skall form a unit which is naturally bound together with Kronprisen's shopping centre. Raised enclosed gardens provide a special character. The centrally located sports halls can also be used for concerts and conferences.
BIG's founder Bjarke Ingels is an internationally recognised architect who has been the recipient of many prizes.
The jury’s motivation
A logical analysis of the area's condition, exciting refernce projects and an interesting exploitation of the place's distinctive character (soul, history and neighbours), in combination with an imaginative concept have led to a structure which satisfies many demands and expectations.
The district is citylike and despite of the high exploitation it opens up to the surroundings. The triangular shapes create lines of sight, light and space, with good possibilities for attractive housing and flexible business locales.
The strong shapes give the project a clear identity.
A possible criticism of the proposal is that it may appear too 'trendy' and style-oriented, to the detriment of functional, historical and economic considerations. However, despite these apprehensions, the proposal is expected to provide good solutions.
Repetition of the triangular form contrasts with the shapes of the surrounding area, but the execution shall ensure that the area comes together as an exciting unit with a strong identity. From surrounding streets and at eye level the buildings won't appear dramatically different from the surrounding area's rectangular structures. Many lines of sight run through the area and preserve the neighbouring properties' views and access to sunlight.
The arena will be situated in the centre of the area with a diagonal placement, leaving all edges free for other buildings to better interact with the surroundings than the spacially demanding arena. The arena´s roof will be used as a park-landscape with huge potential. Efforts must be made to ensure that the area is accessible to all, so that it functions as a great attraction and an asset to the city.
The triangular and terrassed buildings may introduce some technical and economical problems as well as an ineffective use of space. This applies specifically to strairwells and communications to certain apartments, as well sometimes large spaces with poor views and access to sunlight. At the same time, the very attractive enviroment compensates for unusual and sometimes uneconomical solutions.
The jury has consisted of the following persons:
Kent Widding-Persson, initiator and main financer.
Mårten Hedlund, initiator and CEO
Mats Jacobson, Architect SAR/MSA.
Ingemar Gråhamn, City of Malmö Architect.
Cecilia Hansson, Architect SAR/MSA City of Malmö.
Stina Räftegård, City of Malmö Real Estate Office.
Dick Johansson, City of Malmö Real Estate Office.
Inger Blomqvist, City of Malmö Streets and Parks Department.
Imporant criterias in the evaluation process have been:
Conceptualisation and architecture
Character and identity
Adaptation to the city landscape
Added value to Malmö
Sustainability
The structure’s flexibility and functionality
Traffic and logistics
Economy and feasibility
The attractive power of the apartments
The division into stages
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The World Village of Women Sports were presented at the IOC conference at the City Square in Copenhagen
2009-10-06
The Copenhagen City Hall and the University of Copenhagen gave their support to The World Village of Women Sports at a press conference in Copenhagen a couple of hours before they introduced Rio de Janiro as host for the 2016 Olympics.
Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard and Prorector at the University of Copenhagen Lykke Friis, hosted a press conference where Associate Professors Peter Krustrup and Laila Ottesen presented new studies and gave their support to The World Village of Women Sports.
- I see The World Village of Women Sport as a great opportunity for the sport scientists, coaches and women athletes of the Oresund Region and I hope that the University of Copenhagen and the city of Copenhagen will be involved in a fruitful collaboration with the World Village of Women Sports, said Associated Professor Peter Krustrup.
From the left: Associate Professors Peter Krustrup and Laila Ottesen, Prorector at the University of Copenhagen Lykke Friis, Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard and Mårten Hedlund, CEO of The World Village of Women Sports.
The University of Copenhagen also introduced new research that showed that women benefits more from playing recreational soccer than from running when it comes to overall fitness. Women playing soccer also experience a higher degree of motivation when it comes to sticking to their sport, and they increase their ability to bridge and create new acquaintances.
The conclusion of the press conference was that we need to support women sports on both sides of Öresund.
- On both sides of Öresund we have many companies with interesting products for active women that will gain a lot of connecting their products, research and developement to The World Village of Women Sports. Therefor there was an important point taken when the Lord Mayor invited us to be a part of this unique pressmeeting at a crowded City Hall Square in Copenhagen just an hour before Rio were selected as host of the 2016 Olympics. This press-meeting was an important start of an intensive co-operation with our neighbour-city, Copenhagen and the University of Copenhagen, commented Mårten Hedlund, co-founder and CEO of The World Village of Women Sports.
Mårten Hedlund, CEO of The World Village of Women Sports.
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€200 million invested in a new world centre for women’s sports
2009-10-02
The World Village of Women Sports will provide sportswomen all over the world with a unique platform for developing on their own terms and conditions. A total of €200 million is to be invested in this research development and training centre now taking shape in Malmö, Sweden, 20 minutes from Scandinavia’s largest airport.
The World Village of Women Sports is a private sector initiative comprising of a 100,00 square metre multifunctional complex. The first stage is scheduled for completion in 2012.
“This is probably the largest investment ever in women’s sports in the world. We are currently in the process of inviting international sport to take part in designing the concept. The interest is enormous,” says Mårten Hedlund, one of the brains behind the project and CEO of the newly formed project company.
“The new centre is all about sport on the terms and conditions of women, individuals as well as entire teams, and within all sports. You could say that women’s sport has always been based on male role figures, but scientists have now found that women need to train, eat and rest in different ways to men in order to avoid injury and improve performance levels.”
“The World Village of Women Sports will have cutting-edge expertise. We are in the process of tying up top drawer actors from all over the world. The centre will conduct research and development for, and with, women athletes from all corners of the globe.”
Sports organisations and the private sector are crucial partners
Several international sports organisations and other organisations are today involved in the discussions surrounding The World Village of Women Sports. The interest is immense.
The World Village of Women Sports Foundation, a non-profit organisation, will receive and donate funds to research and visiting professorships. The founders, Mårten Hedlund and Kent Widding Persson, are aiming for a Board made up of some of the strongest sports clubs in the world, together with the private sector and eminent scientists. The first Board will be elected in autumn 2009.
“At the same time we will be setting up Advisory Boards consisting of celebrated experts and collaborating with world-leading universities to appoint guest professors and to hold workshops,” explains Mårten Hedlund.
The World Village of Women Sports brand is registered in Europe and in several commercially viable countries, both in name and symbol. Licences will be issued to companies that see value in using the brand for their products and services in their marketing of active women.
“We are counting on several international companies establishing in The World Village of Women Sports, an indication that they are on the frontline. They could include pharmaceutical, nutrition and sports equipment companies.”
Inspiration, research and development
The World Village of Women Sports is an elite project that targets athletes, coaches, leaders, doctors, social scientists, researchers and others seeking new inspiration for, and knowledge of, women’s sports. As opposed to academic research into the physical and mental aspects of sports, this is all about hands-on collaboration and finding ways of empowering and developing women’s sport:
How should training be laid up to avoid knee injuries? Can the explosiveness of a sprinter be transferred into other sports? What should be observed during menstruation periods? Which diet is preferable and how much rest is required for the active sportswoman to develop in the long-term? The aim is also to contribute positively to world health.
New opportunities for the elite athlete
For women athletes to develop they are dependent on athletics clubs with sufficient resources and should live in a country that takes women’s sports seriously. This is not a matter of course. The obstacles could be financial, cultural or religious.
“Our work with women’s football in South Africa has been crucial in our preparations. Another vital influence has been our discussions with Qatar, a country that is hoping to bid for the Olympic Games, something that requires a more modern view of women and improved gender equality. Qatar wishes to collaborate with The World Village of Women Sports.”
“The World Village of Women Sports is writing sports history. An interdisciplinary, multicultural and pioneering view of sport will create new opportunities. Sportswomen from all corners of the world will be given the opportunity to train together and exchange knowledge and experience that will benefit their development.”
Ambassador for women’s sports
Mårten Hedlund maintains that in many respects Sweden is one of the world’s most gender-equal countries. Sweden has a gender equality ombudsman, for example.
“Sweden was among the first countries to ratify the UN Convention on the Abolishing of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). We are also far advanced with regard to sports medicine, sports sciences and gender research. The World Village of Women Sports is the natural ambassador for women’s sports at all levels.”
Multifunctional complex
The World Village of Women Sports will be a multifunctional complex of around 100,000 square metres with a sports centre at the heart of inspiring surroundings. It will be an attractive place to live and work. The first stage is scheduled to open in 2012.
Five architect offices have entered designs for The World Village of Women Sports. One of these comes from BIG in Denmark. You can see their proposal below.
Mårten Hedlund underlines that The World Village of Women Sports fits perfectly with Malmö’s profile as an event city. Malmö has top modern arenas for a variety of sports and in 2005 hosted the Americas Cup.
Event in Skåne, the region´s official events agency, works to make Skåne a leading venue for top Swedish and international sport events, tradefairs and conferences.
For further details please contact:
• Mårten Hedlund, The World Village of Women Sports, +46 (0)707 53 11 33, marten.h@womensportvillage.com
• Kent Widding Persson, The World Village of Women Sports, +46 (0)708 16 46 34,
kent.w@womensportvillage.com
Also go to www.womensportvillage.com
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New world centre for women’s sports on show in Malmö
2009-06-29
In connection with the U21 European Football Championships in Malmö on Monday, The World Village of Women Sports® was presented, a new world centre for women’s sports. At the end of august a winner will be announced among the five architect offices that entered the contest to design the centre.
“Active sportspeople will be able to develop their skills using the latest training methods, and will also be assisted with operations and injury rehabilitation. Sweden has come a long way with regard to gender equality, which gives the project credibility. The Malmö location, a part of an expansive region, also feels natural,” says Mårten Hedlund, one of the inspirers and founders of the newly formed project company.
Mårten Hedlund.
According to the plans, The World Village of Women Sports® will comprise of 70,000—100,000 square metres of offices, apartments and restaurants, etc. Malmö University and the Sydsvenskan newspaper group have both signed statements of intent to move there.
The initiators of the project are businessmen Kent Widding Persson, Mårten Hedlund and Dan Olofsson. As well as property developers, they are also seeking investors who see a value in The World Village of Women Sports® brand, such as global manufacturers of sports equipment and electronics. Work is also ongoing engaging international sports organisations.
Two of the founders behind the project, Kent Widding Persson and Mårten Hedlund.
Kent Widding Persson together with Lars Lagrell and Thomas Dennerby from the Swedish Football Association.
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The The launch of the project
2008-10-22
Over a hundred people where present at The World Village of Women Sports Press Conference, on the 22nd of October 2008, at the Town Hall of Malmö.
Kent Widding Persson, one of two founders and main financier explains why he ventures this much in women sports. “Today almost nothing happens in the world of women football or sports. We’re lifting a backpack of guilty conscience. Now is the right time to do this. Investing in this is a natural step forward.
In his commitment to the Swedish football-team LdB FC he has seen the world of women sports up close.
“As the concept of The World of Women Sports has grown, the positive respons from the athletic world has increased. A lot thanks to Susanne Erlandsson, Marika Domanski Lyfors, Gunilla Lindberg, Karen Espelund, Vera Pauw, Berit Sirstad, Bengt Saltin, Magnus Karlsson, Bo Carlsson and more."
The building of The World Village of Women Sports will start in the fall of 2010. “We start building when the economy is low, and we will be finished when it has turned up again.”
Mårten Hedlund, Founder and CEO LdB FC Marketing, has worked with women football over a period of two years, and this work inspired him to start building on an international research-, development- and inspirationcenter for women. “Women football is the fastest growing sport today. It is time to give women athletes the possibility to reach their full potential."
He met with Kent Widding Persson in march 2007, and one month later plans regarding The World Village of Women Sports where in motion. “This is a platform, we don’t have all the answers. The world of scientists, athletes and business will be invited, and together we will form the activity in the The World Village of Women Sports."
The center had another name at the start. ”When I met Gunilla Lindberg, IOC, she applauded the project and told med there was really only one problem, the name The European Village was to small, she thought, this is bigger than that and we want to be a part of it. Of course we changed the name.”
Ilmar Reepalu, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Committee, opened the Press Conference saying: “This is a bold project that aims for the future and is right in time. Men are still being the norm within sports. This project is just right for Malmö.
Susanne Erlandsson, Vice-Chairwoman Sweden Football association, agreed with Christer Larsson, Malmö city council, who pointed out that The World Village of Women Sports open doors for new values. “There is good collaboration within the world of women football, there is an exchange of thought and experience, and this is valid also at national levels. This project gives women the same conditions that men have.”
Marika Domanski Lyfors, Football Chairwoman Sweden Football association, sees the potential in The World Village of Women Sports to change the world of football: “I’m very proud to sit here. We are taking part in something historical within national and international sports. This creates large possibilities in future football and sports for women.”