Summary
In 2018, public officials in the City of Gothenburg visited the Walker Rally event in Oslo. The study visit gave a lot of inspiration in how the City of Gothenburg can implement a walker rally.
The process started in the autumn 2018 to anchor the idea with different sectors in the city. A project group started for the walker rally, lead by the development centre and public officials from the health promotion units.
The main idea with the rally was to increase awareness and visibility of older persons different needs in using public space. But also, to decrease the stigmatization in using walker, wheelchairs and walking sticks. By organising Walker Rally, the City of Gothenburg, wanted to in a joyful way promote physical activity and health.
To highlight this issue it was decided to have the walker rally on October 1; the International Day of Older Persons. The event had a full-packed programme that consisted of warm- up exercises, music and dance performances and prize awards for best decorated walker for single contestants and group contestants.
The Walker Rally had the distance of 600 meter and all participants were rewarded a medal. The race was held in the central park “Trädgårdsföreningen”. About 200 older persons joined the first big walker rally in Gothenburg. Volunteers from different organisations together with staff from the City of Gothenburg helped to implemented the rally. It was considered as a success and will be re-organised again in the autumn 2020.
Largest walker rally in Sweden
The Walker Rally attracted attention by media in Sweden. This was the largest walker rally ever made in Sweden. In a clip from the Swedish television, the winner of best decorated walker, Sinikka Rokka, talks about what the walker means to her, see https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/vinnaren-i-goteborgs-forsta-rullatorrally
Do you want to know more, please contact:
Sofia Tillman, Process Manager social sustainability, +46 31 368 00 97, sofia.tillman@stadshuset.goteborg.se
Key facts
Main target group: Older people with chronic health conditions or disability
Other target group(s): volunteers, city staff, relatives
Sector(s): Health, Long-term care, Urban development
Other sector(s): mobility, social inclusion, participation
Desired outcome for older people:
Be mobile
- Ageism
- Accessibility
- Healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity)
- Intergenerational activities
- Inclusion
- Participation