ISCA, the International Sports and Culture Association, organised its annual Move Congress and General Assembly in Rome, Italy, between October 22 and 25, 2014.

The Congress was held under the title Open City - Active City, and consisted of several subthemes. Over 300 participants were acquainted with the problematic of urban environment with the possibilities and opportunities of sports and recreation through the prism of architectural, social and demographic prism, importance of healthy life-style and innovative approaches in mobilisation of the citizens mainly in urban areas. Special emphasis was given to the children and youth and increasing possibilities for sports and moving within and outside of the education institutions. The other focus was on active aging where the elderly can stay fit and take care of their health and well-being.



The participants were welcomed by the President of ISCA Mr Mogens Kirkeby and several high representatives of the national government, City of Rome, national sports-for-all organisation UISP, Olympic Committee (CONI) and some other representatives. Parts of the 3-day congress, which was hosted within the premises of the local Faculty of Architecture, could be also followed online. Participants were also able to get to know more about the funding opportunities within the Erasmus+ programme and actively contribute to the content discussion and plans for making new urban policies in the field of sports and recreation. Participants were also taking part in an experiment involving sound and movement and the result will be a video which will be shortly available at the website www.movecongress.com where also the presentations from the plenaries and workshops will be made available.



A study tour through the historic city of Rome has been organised as well, accompanied by street art performances, sporting activities within the green areas of the city. A special cultural programme was organised in the city center, involving plenty of movement and dance.



At the General Assembly which was held on Saturday, October 25, ISCA delegates confirmed new members, approved the annual reports and budgets and plans for the future. The project of Move week, where also several universities and university sport organisations have been involved in, received special attention.



ISCA President Mr Kirkeby and Secretary General Mr Jakob Schouenborg stressed that although significant progress in the field of sport for all has been made in the past years, there is much to do and that the European Week of Sport, as set by the European Union, will hopefully increase the number of people regularly involved in sport and recreation.



The Congress and Assembly was also attended by Mr Andrej Pisl, Communications and Projects Manager of the European University Sports Association (EUSA).