Espoo liikkuu 2040

Espoo liikkuu 2040 consists of the versatile and high-quality service provided by the Espoo Sports and Exercise Unit. It is based on resident-oriented, equal and non-discriminatory treatment. By thinking boldly, we shape the direction, spectrum and content of our services. Exploring the service needs helps us stay focused on the basics.  Espoo liikkuu 2040 tells about the identity of our unit and the entire sports community in a rapidly changing operating environment as part of a vibrant Espoo.

We take care of the promotion of physical activity and sports by providing an effective contribution to the well-being of our residents. We do this with our partners. We encourage residents to find either an independent or instructed exercise opportunity, to experience the joy of being physically active, the sense of well-being it brings. By removing or lowering obstacles, we create opportunities for people to start and increase recreational exercise. For many, exercise is not only a way of life, but also a means of life management.

Espoo does well when its residents are well. Nature is an elixir valued by Espoo residents, an equal source of well-being that anyone can enjoy. Outdoor recreation routes, local sports facilities, a ski track network, the sea and its shoreline all provide experiences of well-being inexpensively and equally. Thanks to these diverse and unique opportunities, Espoo is the capital of nature exercise of Finland.

Vision work has been carried out in cooperation with unit staff and our partners. Everyone has had the opportunity to contribute to its creation. Completed work strengthens commitment and creates cohesion. We are curious and prone to experimentation, but at the same time, we rely on knowledge and the effectiveness of our activities. Curiosity motivates us and the power of creativity drives us forward. We face the future as it unfolds before us. We also take into account any risks that might be coming our way. 

In a changing world, exercise provides a supportive and activity-oriented meeting platform, increasing the sense of security and providing a huge amount of social capital. Through it, you can find lifelong friends, opportunities and the meaning of everyday life.

Ethics, responsibility, equality, fairness and parity form the value base of our operations. In cooperation with the Sector for Economic Development, Sports and Culture, we promote well-being, equality and inclusion. We safeguard biodiversity and the accessibility of our local nature through sustainable development as well as diversity and accessibility objectives.

Our operating environment is constantly changing. It requires close and network-like cooperation among the various actors in the city organisation: sustainable development, well-being, inclusion, partnerships and nature are also at the heart of other units of the city. Successful implementation of the exercise programme requires the commitment of all units and the setting of goals. Espoo needs its own city-level exercise programme.

Digitalisation is making new technologies mainstream. The impact also extends to our services – both as opportunities and as new kinds of challenges and risks. As digital exercise and games increase, there is a risk that traditional physical activity will be replaced by virtual experiences, which can then lead to the deterioration of physical fitness. Risks also include reduced privacy and security, the environmental impact of digital infrastructure, and reduced accessibility to services if access to modern devices is not equal.

Climate change is testing ecological sustainability and shaping the conditions around us. Abandoning fossil fuels will introduce changes to the cityscape. In addition to the energy system, change is needed in mobility, construction and administration. The change will increase the circular economy, reduce consumption, electrify maintenance runs and increase the use of renewable energy. Sports will have their very own green transition.

According to population forecasts, Espoo will have almost 400,000 residents in 2040. Our population is ageing and diversifying. Housing is built increasingly more densely along our railways and in regional centres, where sports opportunities clusters are also created.

There are already foreign-language speakers everywhere in the city. In 2040, there will be a lot of seniors who speak foreign languages in Espoo, and including them in our services will be challenging. There will also be changes in club activities. Diversity is increasing, but the goal is to keep the number of clubs' members in relation to the population. The change requires new emphasis when it comes to conditions. This is needed so that both club activities and independent physical activity remain viable in Espoo.

Espoo’s strengths include successful interdisciplinary cooperation. The city, Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd form a platform that brings together significant actors: students, start-ups, business life, researchers and municipality residents. Together, we create innovations for a better life. This is complemented by ambitious work not only for sustainable development, but also for human well-being. Therefore, one of the foundations of a more active lifestyle is close, extensive, enquiring and innovative cooperation between sports and the science community. We challenge the learning path to join the development work.

Rapid change comes with challenges. For example, the pandemic increased economic pressures, unemployment, loneliness, social and health problems, and weakened the operating conditions of companies. At the same time, however, it guided people to go outside, into nature. In terms of physical activity, we went back to our roots in an instant, from special sports facilities to the basic platform of exercise.

Our city's economy is tightened by the establishment of the wellbeing services county, the equalisation of tax revenue between municipalities and population growth that is stronger than the growth of tax revenue. As the economy tightens and there are more parties requiring support, the grounds for support must be clear and strong. The general economic situation and the reform needs of sports facilities are seen as the most significant of future challenges. (National Sports Council, 2023, p. 18)

The culture of sports and exercise is changing. As quality requirements increase, the cost of being physically active increases. Exercise activity is threatened by polarisation. Competition for leisure time is intensifying, commitment to physical activity is becoming short-term and experimental. Fortunately, individualisation, population diversity and youth culture will continue to shape different forms of exercise. The range of different sports is growing, and some of the new options are strongly culture-specific.

Everyday physical activity is crucial. Children’s basic physical skills are in danger of deteriorating, and cases of adult lifestyle diseases are increasing. Therefore, the importance of being physically active has increased and our country’s government added to the 2023–2027 government programme a section called Get Finland Moving.

We must adapt to changes and phenomena in sports life. This is a way to increase the city’s attractiveness, making Espoo a city where people want to move. Exercise and sports create communal experiences that strengthen the city’s retaining power. This means that people want to stay and live in Espoo. We are on the right track in Espoo, as the platform for our services is extensive and diverse. It affects the quality of life of people, the improvement of their functional capacity and the reduction of their diseases. When managed well, Sports and Exercise Services provide Espoo with energy, vitality and additional income as well as savings.

Children and young people, special groups and seniors are at the heart of our services. The Leiki ja liiku (“play and be physically active”) activities allow children of early childhood education age to be physically active and practice their motor skills under the guidance of competent instructors. The activities give everyone equal opportunities to experience the joy of exercise. Exercise guidance and senior exercise groups and the improvement of opportunities for physical activity in the urban environment all support the objectives of the Get Finland Moving programme that concern the promotion of physical activity and the management of residents’ daily lives.

The vision consists of eight chapters. We describe the changes in the operating environment as a phenomenon of sports culture, sustainability of services and increase in digitalisation. Sustainability is examined from an ecological, economic, social and cultural perspective. Digitalisation encompasses a wide range of themes from digital solutions for traditional exercise and sports to esports and the utilisation of artificial intelligence and data.

We dive into well-being and physical activity from the point of view of the target groups of our services, we examine partnerships and we focus on the construction and use of sports facilities.

Finally, we look at top-level sports in Espoo, our sports and exercise community, and the national and international events offered by sports. In everything, we rely on the value base and strategy of the Espoo Story, and we strongly believe in partnerships.

We have been guided not only by communal and participatory activities, but also by knowledge-based work. It is impossible to accurately predict the future, but a situational picture based on knowledge and history helps make some educated guesses. We follow the user volumes and energy consumption of different sports facilities, event visitor survey data, feedback from local residents, number of participants in the city’s exercise groups, and city- and national-level data sources. It is particularly important to compile the data provided by the club community about participants and changes in the data. The most influential factor in everyday life is customer feedback.

We are involved in the development work for knowledge- and impact-based leadership. We have gained valuable data about the users of outdoor gyms and the effectiveness of the senior sports wristband. We transfer experiences gained and lessons learnt to our services. We expand services, emphasising their effectiveness.

Espoo liikkuu 2040 is bold and interesting but still realistic.

Espoo is a responsible pioneer: its goal is to be carbon-neutral by 2030. A sustainable everyday life is created together with residents and partners through new solutions for mobility, energy use and construction. We emphasise a sustainable lifestyle everywhere, in culture, sports and exercise and school and learning services that enhance well-being. We maintain comfortable local nature and nurture green areas. By respecting nature and the green corridors it offers, we can take deep, calming breaths of the future we share with our nature.

Espoo is guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. They can be used to measure the effectiveness of the Espoo Story. Solving the challenges of sustainable development requires strong cooperation with our partners. We want the goals set for sustainability to be achieved in the everyday life of exercise and sports, too. If necessary, we will turn to new solutions and innovations.

Climate change is already affecting our operations. We pay attention to this issue proactively when we are just starting to plan new sports facilities. The increase in extreme weather phenomena requires additional investment in the maintenance of sports facilities.

Our measures to mitigate climate change are publicly available in the Climate Watch service(external link, opens in a new window).

The most important areas of ecological sustainability are energy and premise solutions, traffic, circular economy, procurement and city planning of mobility.

The generation of energy creates the majority of the city’s emissions. Our own energy solutions include, for example, solutions related to the driving force of machinery and vehicles as well as the lighting and use of premises. Switching to carbon-neutral district heat production reduces emissions. Another important aspect is controlling energy production so that it meets the need for it. In order to achieve efficient use of premises, the most energy efficient measure is finding a level of controlled scarcity in terms of supply and demand.   

Reduced distances, smooth bicycle routes and an accessible, comfortable and safe urban space are examples of sustainable solutions. Walking and cycling create well-being for the entire urban community. The share of physical activity in everyday mobility increases. Cycling becomes electrified, which means that a well-functioning cycling network plays a central role.

Cities are increasingly important builders of the circular economy. We, too, have the potential to build different circular economy ecosystems. In the future, we can implement our procurement and services in a climate-friendly manner and enable a more sustainable lifestyle for our residents.

Despite climate neutrality efforts, the climate is changing. We must adapt to changing weather conditions, prepare for damage caused by extreme weather phenomena and protect biodiversity. Repair investments keep growing.

Sports clubs are assessing the same challenges: heating the sports halls and facilities as well as going to practices, training camps and match trips put a strain on the climate. Our partners already have valuable information about the climate impacts of their operations. In Espoo, sports clubs are pioneers in assessing their climate impacts. Our partners’ energy solutions are sustainable in a manner required by our modern times.

“We build and maintain a sustainable sports infrastructure.”

In 2040, ecology has been taken into account in sports conditions and their maintenance in a versatile manner. The rubber granule of artificial turfs has been abandoned, and it has been replaced with an ecological substance. The equipment for the maintenance of the sports conditions is modern, all devices are electric or powered by other sustainable forms of energy.

Well-being creates savings as the need for corrective services decreases. An economically sustainable city makes prudent purchases, takes care of its residents, properties and equipment. The city is looking for energy-saving solutions, subsidizes facilities’ rent rates and supports sports facilities built by clubs. New innovations, digitalisation and bold solutions in the organisation of services are an opportunity for increasing financial profitability.

When the responsibility for sports facility construction is transferred to the main user of the facility in the partnership model and the city makes use of deliberately created facilities for its own needs, all parties win. Private actors construct the premises at a more affordable price and the majority of the investments and operating costs are paid by the users of the premises. The city saves on its own investments while facilities for hobbies and physical activity are created according to the demand for them. The model has been incorporated into the city’s investment programme to make it a genuine alternative to construction carried out by the city itself.

An example of economic and social sustainability is the free leisure activities model, which offers children and young people either free-of-charge or very affordable recreational activities during school days at their own school or in its vicinity. It is important that there is an inexpensive model that is not primarily focused on finding a competitive path. When it reaches its full potential, the model supports and creates leisure activities in club activities.

• Outdoor exercise is free of charge in Espoo.
• We guarantee and support sports facilities built by clubs.
• We offer free low-threshold hobby groups before or after school days in cooperation with sports clubs.
• We cover 30–40% of external rents in hobbies for children and young people.
• The premises subsidy in our premises is about 90% for sports clubs.
• On average, we cover on average about 70–80% of each swimming hall visit.
• For Espoo residents aged over 68, we offer a sports bracelet with affordable access to swimming halls, the archipelago and the city’s gyms. The wristband allows its possessor to bring a friend with them free of charge.

The customer is the most important element. Everyone has the opportunity to participate. We are building a platform for the prerequisites of physical activity, so that we can maintain well-being and equality for different generations. We promote diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility. We find models for intergenerational interaction, opportunities for a generational contract wherein the older age groups get the opportunity to pass on their experience to the younger generations – and vice versa.

Exercise and social activities provide the everyday life with meaning, inclusion, emotion and a desire to get up and be active. Interactions with others prevent loneliness. Club activities provide a platform for almost a million friendships. Participating in regular activities brings purpose to life, the impact of which on mental well-being is valuable.

The free leisure activities path gathers every week about 2,500 children and young people into hobbies in 150 different groups. Our operations reach more than 10% of the young people who do not yet participate in club activities. We want to involve everyone interested in our activities.

The clubs have 50,000 members, of which more than 30,000 are children and young people. The figure corresponds to the number of primary school-age children in the whole city. Club activities offer a chance for children to have lifelong friendships that can become as meaningful a life experience as school. The moments experienced in hobbies create a strong and long-lasting bond. Being part of a club is an invaluable emotional base for almost everyone.

We also invest in hobby afternoons for secondary school students in cooperation with schools. The activities held on Wednesday afternoons are attended by more than 1,000 children and young people, more than a hundred of whom have no previous hobby. The young people participating in the hobbies get to enjoy a free evening and important social activities with their families, friends or even school assignments.

Children’s equal opportunity to participate in things and their right to a safe childhood are the basis of everything. An acknowledged fact is that the special needs of early childhood education-age children are increasing, and this must be taken into account in the services of young people and young adults in the future. We prevent inequality and social exclusion. The Leiki ja liiku (“play and be physically active”) activities are a good example of enabling equal access to physical activity for children aged 5–6. In the Leiki ja liiku activities, we cooperate with Finnish and Swedish early childhood and gymnastics clubs.

The inexpensive exercise bracelet for seniors (+68) is used annually by 15,000 elderly people a total of almost 250,000 times, either at swimming halls, gyms or in archipelago boat traffic. In addition, there are more than 250 free groups of instructed physical activities per week, where special attention is paid to seniors (aged +75) and special groups.

We organise groups of adapted sports that can be attended by people whose functional capacity is limited due to disability, illness or something else. The aim is to promote health and maintain functional and physical capacity. We grant swimming and gym benefits for special groups. These can be obtained based on a diagnosis or disability. With regard to adapted sports groups, we cooperate closely with sports clubs.

Many seniors suffer from loneliness. Therefore, holders of the +68 wristband can access gyms, swimming halls and, on archipelago boats, nature with a person aged 18 and over of their choice. This person has free entry. The swimming bracelet for special groups also entitles the holder to bring a friend with them when they go swimming. Every year, there are more than 43,000 visits to swimming halls, and the number of visits has quadrupled between 2021 and 2023. 

Our principles for a safer space promote an atmosphere in our premises where everyone respects each other and strives to build an equal and open sports environment. Everyone has the opportunity to be themselves and express themselves freely.

Cultural sustainability emphasises the identity of people and communities, a key part of well-being. According to population forecasts, a majority of foreign-language speakers will be of working age in 2034. The number of children and young people is growing in the foreign-language population. Through cultural sustainability, we ensure that the diversity of services is taken into account. In order to succeed, it requires two-way development where the responsibilities and expectations of the individual and society meet.

By offering all children and young people the opportunity to engage in hobbies, we are involved in integration work. We started the training of instructors for children’s recreational sports in cooperation with educational institutions. The starting point was that we would get multicultural instructors and coaches to be part of club activities in order to develop multicultural sustainability.

Through the general grant criteria, we can have an impact on the creation of hobby groups. We want to bring different cultures together through exercise and hobbies. More versatile use of sports facilities and new types of sports require paying attention in the planning, renovation and implementation of sports fields. The free use of the premises will become highlighted in the future.

Cultural sustainability requires society-wide actions, resources, infrastructure, training and, above all, extensive network-like cooperation. It also requires a permissive attitude.

“Exercise and sports are a gateway to integration and a pathway to a community spirit”

Sports and exercise are expected to meet people’s increasingly individual needs. New types of sport face challenges in finding their place in the structures of traditional sports. According to Gamer Barometer 2022(external link, opens in a new window), 76% of young people aged 10–19 play weekly or more often digital entertainment games (Kinnunen, Tuomela & Mäyrä, 2022, p. 32). The world of children and young people is becoming digitalised, and the city should keep up with the rapid change.

The digitalisation of traditional sports and exercise refers to things such as remotely instructed sports classes, physical activities utilising augmented reality and well-being technology becoming more prevalent.

We are developing the activities of increasingly more digitalised exercise and esports. Since 2023, we have, in cooperation with companies, sports clubs, sports federations, umbrella organisations and educational institutions, carried out experiments in digitalising physical activities and esports. We are experimenting with new forms of being active and creating a basis for future recreational activities and everyday exercise. In addition, there are sports- and exercise-focused hobby groups that utilise digitalisation in Espoo.

The experiment-based approach has proven its effectiveness in innovation and development work. The projects offer excellent opportunities to try out new forms of activity and develop Espoo’s service offering so that it meets residents’ new needs in an ever-digitalising world. Development requires closer cooperation with the corporate field.

• We use sports games to turn passive school and sports facilities into active ones. Through this, we have made people’s everyday lives more physically active.
• Espoo hosts national and international esports and gaming events every year. These have been visited by more than 25,000 people between 2022 and 2024.
• There are esports organisations operating in Espoo that enable goal-oriented esports in addition to organised gaming.

“In 2040, Espoo will boldly utilise the opportunities offered by digitalisation to increase physical activity.”

Organised hobby activities related to esports and increasingly more digitalised sports and exercise are gaining popularity. Keeping up with the change requires courage: the creation of new forms of support, the construction of modern sports conditions, as well as the critical examination of existing activities and how they can be developed. We support and develop the esports ecosystem in such a way that digital recreation is possible both independently and in an organised manner.

Hobby activities in esports may become differentiated from traditional sports club activities. Esports actors are mainly limited liability companies and association activities are not a common form of activity. This challenges the current approach in which hobby activities are mainly organised in cooperation with associations. In principle, innovations and solutions for esports and digitalising physical activities are generated in the private sector, and their utilisation requires cooperation across sectors.

“In 2040, game education will be an integral part of instructed activities in sports, exercise, schools and youth services, for example.”

We develop cooperation models that will serve as a path for future esports athletes to engage in goal-oriented gaming as well as organised competitive and recreational activities. We take societal challenges and vulnerable young people into account. Gambling improves their opportunities to participate in instructed recreational activities. We have created a strategy for digitalising exercise and sports.

Community spirit will always be at the heart of the Espoo sports culture. Digitalisation is a resource that allows us to speak to people in a new way. Co-creation with local residents and actors in the sector creates new opportunities to be physically active in a way that suits the individual. Digital solutions of exercise and sports enable being physically active regardless of location, offering the opportunity to participate in events and competitions globally. This increases the accessibility of physical activities for different population groups.

“Digital sports and exercise belong to everyone.”

In the future, Espoo will be Finland’s pioneer in utilising interactive activities in sports, exercise and play premises. Espoo will not have any premises that could not be used in a multidimensional way to meet the objectives of the entire city. Passive premises can be activated through things such as sports game solutions and interactive play equipment.

We utilise digital solutions in a versatile manner in order to activate residents of all ages. The potential of sports games in combining fun with physical and mental benefits offers a versatile offering in our services.

Vision 2040: "In 2040, digital physical activity and sports have merged into everyday life. Virtual and augmented reality have found their place, offering innovative ways to participate in things. Digital solutions make it possible to overcome any time and location constraints related to physical activity.

AI and smart devices offer personalised training programmes and provide real-time feedback to help athletes and fitness enthusiasts optimise their performance and track their results. Real-time visitor volume monitoring is widely used in various sports facilities. Monitoring and storing data is possible at many outdoor sports facilities.”

It is important to look at the opportunities and risks brought by technology from the perspective of sports and exercise. Technology attracts new people to sports and exercise. Digital solutions can be used to overcome geographical and economic barriers. Digital communities independent of any specific location offer the opportunity to belong to a social group. Language-neutral digital technologies are a tool for promoting accessibility and integration. Through sports games, we have increased the physical activity and social interaction of different target groups. In this way, we prevent social exclusion and promote a sense of togetherness.

At the same time, we must ensure that the technology does not replace physical activity or lead to increased passivity or loneliness. Improving privacy and data security, bridging the digital divide and minimising environmental impacts are factors to be taken into account.

Effective strategies and rules are essential for control. This requires multidisciplinary cooperation between technology companies, sports organisations, healthcare and the public sector. Everyone must have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from digitalised physical activity, regardless of their socio-economic status or place of residence.

It is essential that technology is used sustainably and ethically, supporting health and well-being goals for everyone. The development of digital tools and platforms must be carried out in a user-oriented manner, taking into account their long-term effects on both individuals and the environment. This way, we can ensure that digitalisation improves the quality of life and promotes an active lifestyle.

In Finland, exercising is a cultural fundamental right. It is resident-oriented and a significant part of well-being and caring for each other. In the Act on the Promotion of Sports and Physical Activity, physical activity is all everyday, fitness and leisure exercise that promotes health. Physical activity, the joy and pleasure it brings, promotes our health and brings pleasure, when carried out regularly.

We invest in promoting well-being. We offer diverse opportunities for an active lifestyle. We create a hobby path for children and young people in Espoo, with which we will support children and young people in a community-oriented, healthy lifestyle. Another aim is to prevent social exclusion.

We emphasise self-motivated physical activity. Instructed exercise groups for all ages and levels offer an easy and versatile way to engage in physical activity. Investments in sports construction are important in promoting well-being. Well-maintained and easily accessible outdoor recreation areas, bicycle routes and sports fields provide opportunities and give an incentive to be physically active.

The impacts of nature are more significant the more often we experience nature. Especially in the case of mental health problems, nature exercise is beneficial. Therefore, nature exercise experiences should be as accessible as possible for everyone.

In the work of promoting well-being and health, we are going through a period of change. We are building new cooperation models with the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County. Change is an opportunity for sports and exercise and requires active cooperation. All sports and exercise services are part of well-being work.

”We encourage residents to find either an independent or instructed exercise opportunity, to experience the joy of being physically active, the sense of well-being it brings.”

One of the focuses of our services is the realisation of leisure activity opportunities: every child and young person must have the opportunity to have at least one hobby of their liking. Children’s hobbies often also become a social meeting place between their parents. There may be obstacles to engaging in hobbies, such as price, the child’s or young person’s loneliness, the child or young person being an outsider, or lack of encouragement. More low-threshold leisure activities will be made available to children and young people during afternoons after school days. They will be implemented in cooperation with schools and the third sector. Removing barriers increases opportunities.

The Leiki ja liiku (“play and be active”) activities are carried out during a day in early childhood education. The activities are based on increasing the physical activity of children in early childhood education and a strong partnership model. Sports and Exercise enables the activities and reserves the facilities, early childhood education brings the children and instructors from Espoo-based gymnastics clubs plan the content and instruct the children in cooperation with the early childhood education staff.

The activities promote children’s motor skills, physical activity and social development. Early motor skills development provides better conditions for their wide-ranging development later. In these activities, children learn important social skills: cooperation, interaction and taking others into account. Being physically active in a group encourages children to work together and strengthens the sense of community and team spirit between the children. Children get the opportunity to express their emotions and learn to recognise and regulate them. This is important for children’s emotional development.

The Leiki ja liiku activities are inclusive and suitable for everyone. They allow children to participate according to their own abilities. The activities are equal when all the children in the area’s early childhood education participate in them. In the term 2023–2024, there have been activities in the Leppävaara area. In 2025, there will be extensive activities everywhere in Espoo.

The culture and sports path of the City of Espoo is intended to reach from pre-primary school age to the end of lower secondary school, and it provides a free introduction to a sport or cultural activity. The path has involved almost 30 different service providers. The sport that the class will try out is selected from the service offering and the entire class participates in the visit to try the sport.

Through the sports path, we offer all pupils a very versatile package with which to try out different aspects of sports. It is important to understand the importance of the activity so that as many people as possible can take part in the sports tasting, the pleasure brought by the activity.

Together with clubs and sports companies, we organise largely free-of-charge activities for schoolchildren during school holidays throughout the city area. The goal is to give every child and young person the opportunity to find meaningful physical activities during the holidays.

There are many opportunities. In Espoonlahti and Leppävaara, a popular multi-sport camp for primary school pupils is organised through club cooperation in the summer.

Swimming lessons are offered in Espoo’s swimming halls to children from pre-school age until they reach fourth grade. In addition, special schools have their own swimming lesson time slots. The local swimming club organises swimming courses so that supply and demand meet and families get their child a place in a group that corresponds to the child’s skill level.

A challenge for swimming lessons is the city’s multiculturalism as well as different habits and practices in families’ hobby habits. Swimming is not part of many cultures, which means that the swimming skills of children of those cultures are not developed.Various digital solutions, such as visual instruction, have also been utilised in Espoo, which has improved the effectiveness of swimming lessons.

Vision 2040: "Espoo’s indoor swimming pools are available to schoolchildren. The city can offer teaching not only in the development of personal swimming skills, but also in water safety and water rescue. Swimming lessons are currently held for smaller groups than before, which means that there is more free space, less distractions and a calmer learning environment in the swimming hall. Pupils who require special support are taken into account.

In order to improve water safety, water rescue and the selection of maritime hobbies, the services of maritime Espoo and the city’s 60 km of sea shore can be utilised."

• 3,873 children and their families participated in the Töpinät activities.
• The Leiki ja liiku activities were launched in the autumn, and 37 early childhood education units were involved in them.
• 23,859 visits to the primary school pupils WAU clubs.
• The total number of swimming lessons for primary school pupils was 66,834.
• 27,500 visits to the secondary school pupils' Wednesday afternoon activity groups.
• 2,263 visits to the Jumppi groups for young people aged 13–20.
• Wednesday afternoon activities were organised by 43 clubs in 15 different sports.
• The KULPS sports path reached 30,180 children and young people.
• More than 4,000 children and young people were took part in the holiday activities for schoolchildren

In Finland, the age structure is changing faster than in other EU countries. The number of people with memory loss and reduced mobility is increasing. According to population forecasts, by 2040, the share of Espoo residents aged 65 and over will increase by approximately 20,000 people. The fastest-growing age groups are people aged over 75 and 85. (City of Espoo, 2022, p. 11.)

Seniors in Espoo have an above-average perceived quality of life and 90% of 66-year-old Espoo residents are satisfied with their functional ability. The most popular sports among seniors are walking, cycling, swimming and water exercise, as well as gym and strength training. (City of Espoo, 2024b).

The objective of instructed exercise for seniors is the maintenance and improvement of their physical condition, improvement of their ability to function and refreshment. The programme includes different fitness classes, gym training, water exercise and ball games. We organise diverse sports groups and events indoors and outdoors in different parts of Espoo. Espoo's “senior van” is a van that transports services around, bringing meaningful activities to seniors. The activities at the stops provide seniors with open and free advising, physical exercise, dance moments, as well as art and cultural contents.

Every year, we send a letter to all 68-year-old Espoo residents and offer sports services to seniors through the +68 sports bracelet. In addition, we organise activities intended for seniors over 75 years of age.

We offer a friend service where the +68 bracelet holder can bring an adult friend with them when they go to Espoo swimming halls and gyms and use the archipelago boat. More than 70% of service users utilise our friend service at swimming halls, 50% for archipelago boats and more than 30% at the gym (City of Espoo, 2024b). As Espoo residents grow older, caring for the people around us becomes increasingly important.

Vision 2040: "Accessible gym equipment, walking trails and group sports facilities are accessible and support the physical fitness and health of seniors. In the Espoo of the future, pensioners will be active and even 100-year-old residents will be physically active. Espoo residents will be trained in voluntary sports activities for seniors."

Adapted physical activities are intended for people who have difficulties participating in generally offered sports groups due to disability, illness or another type of impaired capacity. Instructing the physical activities requires adaptation and special expertise. The grounds for instructing adapted physical activity are determined by the Non-Discrimination Act and the Act on the Promotion of Sports and Physical Activity. Municipalities are key actors in adapted physical activities. The services of adapted physical activities affect all age groups, about 15% of the Finnish population (Paralympic Committee, 2024).

Various areas of Espoo offer a wide range of adapted physical activities. We implement them as a group and small group exercise, taking into account the physical, mental and social aspects. However, our electronic customer communications do not yet reach everyone, and only some of our sports facilities are fully accessible.

We have launched the planning of a workbook for adapted physical activities. The workbook is a development plan starting from 2025, which includes objectives, measures, timetables, responsible persons and indicators for the development of adapted physical activities in Espoo. We will investigate what kind of adapted physical activity services are needed in Espoo and who uses these services.

The importance of adapted physical activity is increasing in the target groups of children and young people. It is important that we guarantee equal access to physical activity for children and young people with special needs – both at school and in their free time.

“We provide opportunities to test different sports in an equal manner.”

Working-age people mainly engage in independently physical activity at sports companies and sports clubs (UKK Institute, 2021). People of working age are inspired to be physically active by local nature, the city’s extensive forest areas, beach areas and man-made local sports areas.

We arrange instructed physical activity for working-age people mainly in cooperation with our partners and as a purchased service. We support the independent physical activity of the city’s staff by organising sports groups all over Espoo, including digitally. The groups are suitable for all ages and fitness levels. We encourage city staff to take part in physical activity challenges and campaigns.

The number of working-age people in Espoo is growing – almost 90% of the increase is explained by the increase in the number of foreign language-speaking working-age people (City of Espoo, 2024c). In the future, we will offer services that are suitable for everyone, regardless of their need for support. In this way, we make it possible for all working-age people to have equal access to physical activities. We offer versatile sports environments that attract people of all ages to exercise. The City of Espoo’s work communities have a strong culture of physical activity.

The aim of exercise guidance is to promote healthy lifestyles, maintain health, prevent diseases and support life management. We help customers strengthen their ability and skill to make choices concerning their own physical activity. Advice and guidance are needed to create a physical activity habit and adopt a more active lifestyle. It is also important that people who exercise too little are supported in terms of their functional capacity and increasing their social contacts. Exercise guidance is used to encourage people to exercise as much as required by their health. The service is free-of-charge to the client. The aim is to find a way for the customer to achieve the agreed goals by directing the customer to exercise in, for example, sports groups or independently.

Supporting an active lifestyle is important, and cooperation with the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is emphasised. Having a functional service chain for exercise guidance means such cooperation between different parties where everyone has a task and responsibility. This creates a cohesive service that supports the achievement of a more active everyday life.

Espoo is an attractive, future-oriented and international city that is built on a sense of community and partnerships. As areas grow and sports facilities increase, partnerships become more pronounced. Requirements for the service level increase. The more diverse the approach of different actors, such as sports clubs, is in the context of achieving the goals set together, the better sports and exercise appear to everyone.

We engage in diverse and extensive cooperation within the city and with different organisations and other parties. There are different types of partnerships, as a partnership can contain different forms cooperation, purchased services and event organisation. Networks provide opportunities to collaborate with different actors, share information and spread best practices. This diversifies our sports offering and promotes the effectiveness of our services.

The city is building new swimming halls, school gyms and artificial grass fields. Individuals and communities are building new sports facilities, for which the city will buy time slots for schools. The city supports clubs with rent subsidies so that the cost of hobbies would not rise to unsustainable levels.

This partnership model has become a way of building and developing the conditions for sports and exercise in Espoo. The city transferred its former investment responsibility primarily to those engaging in the sports activities and secondarily to sports entrepreneurs and investors. Therefore, conditions have in popular sports evolved at the rate of the increasing number of participants.

Espoo has created principles for the partnership agreements of sports facility construction. In the future, cities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area will cooperate ever more closely. This means that things such as the swimming hall network could be seen as an entity.

The Facilities and Areas service area engages in extensive partnerships with boat clubs and, in the case of artificial turf, with football clubs. The Public Private Partnership model is used in the Central Espoo swimming hall. Thanks to the model, the costs for the entire contract period are already known. In addition, the city has with some actors concluded service purchasing agreements for the facilities.

Resources and city-level support are needed for the emergence of partnerships and new projects. When it comes to events, partnerships have also been taken into account in the city-level strategy.

Vision 2040: "Cooperation with sports clubs and companies can be multidimensional in the future, which benefits everyone. The clubs can take care of the monitoring of the facilities or part of the residents' recreational physical activity. Cooperation with the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is also essential.

The City of Espoo, companies and research institutes meet at the Keilaniemi innovation hub. Aalto University also enables the development of new innovations for physical activity and well-being. Cooperation with companies in the sports sector is more diverse and closer than before. The companies produce sustainable and bold innovations that help us react to the challenges faced by Sports and Exercise. At the same time, we offer companies a platform for experimentation and an environment for solutions that promote the well-being and physical activity of Espoo residents."

“By working through partnerships, we create a unique and sustainable communal and emotional platform.”

Espoo has more than 300 sports clubs, and they have a central role in encouraging Espoo residents to be physically active. Above all, club activities are the cornerstone of the physical activity of children and young people. More than 100 clubs apply for sports grants. The number of people aged under 20 who engage in sports and exercise through the clubs that have applied for grants totals about 43,000, which is about 55% of all Espoo residents aged 0–20 (Helsinki Region Area Database, 2023).

Clubs have a strong role in encouraging children and young people be physically active, which is a big part of social education work. It supports our children’s growth path and learning capabilities, and increases their motivation to study. Therefore, the cooperation between schools and clubs should be developed.

“The clubs offer daily activities that generate motivation and create lifelong friendships.”

Cities must create good conditions for the sports clubs organising physical activities and cooperate with the parties implementing civic activities. In Espoo, the cooperation is diverse, interactive and of high quality. There is a strong trust between the city and the clubs. Cooperation is carried out to organise events, increase the self-monitoring of the facilities, create free exercise groups and construct sports facilities. Common themes have included the challenges related to integration, the increased price of hobbies, and the ethics and sustainability of club activities. Through premises solutions, we support those clubs and associations that organise free activities that are open to everyone. We take into account the specific characteristics of the areas.

Club activities are gradually shifting from lobbying and identity work to service production and productisation – and more often than not, people are ready to pay for these services. The challenges of club activities include adapting activities to the needs of foreign-language speakers and immigrants, as well as activating and engaging volunteers. If these are not successful, there can be little expansion in club activities from the current level without an increase in costs. Additional costs are also caused by the fact that the construction of sports and exercise conditions has largely remained the responsibility of sports clubs and private parties.

Sports club activities are the cornerstone of the Espoo community. They have grown in the suburbs and their vitality has been based on competent and active residents and high-quality volunteer work. Volunteers are needed at clubs in many different roles; in coaching and instruction work, as guardians, in event organisation and club administration. However, finding volunteers for sports clubs is becoming increasingly challenging. There are many reasons; unwillingness to commit, lack of time and prioritising one’s own leisure time. Sports clubs must develop their strategies and provide flexible and meaningful opportunities to attract and retain volunteers.

The energy crisis and the rise in quality levels have contributed to an increase in the costs faced by clubs. Sport-specific differences in the costs of hobbies are significant, and the price of hobbies is also strongly influenced by the conditions of the sport. (National Sports Council, 2023, p. 38)

Club activities have gradually moved from outdoor to indoor conditions. Athletics or football are sports that are practised all year round and require special conditions. In ice sports, participants are only off the ice in summertime. This has required a rapid response, and it has not been possible to provide facilities that meet the needs of all sports. A change the requirement level challenges everyone.

Espoo is becoming international; at the beginning of 2023, every fourth minor in Espoo spoke a foreign language. New sports are emerging as a result of demographic trends. Good examples of this include cricket and padel. At the same time, it may be difficult to involve new people in traditional sports. Some sports groups may be threatened by a shortage of participants.

We grant time slots at the city’s sports facilities. It is a challenge to provide sports and clubs with facilities that are suitable and safe for their needs. Free time slots at different sports facilities are scarce for residents, as most of the facilities that can be shared are for club use. Despite this, the aim is to leave some time slots at halls and fields available for residents.

Time slots are applied for and granted through the electronic facility booking calendar, usually for two years at a time. Approximately 20,000 time slot applications are processed each year through the electronic booking calendar. The various sports facilities have nearly 500,000 hours of accepted bookings per year. At the moment, a new electronic facility booking service is being developed. The aim is to keep the service level high.

The number of different sports, clubs and the young people participating in them is growing. It is estimated that in 2040, Espoo will have about 80,000 more residents than it currently has (385,000). The lack of appropriate sports facilities is one of the obstacles to sports club activities and, as a result, to the expansion and even continuation of hobbies.

Espoo clubs actively use schools’ sports facilities in the evenings and at weekends. During school holidays (summer, etc.), self-monitored time slots at nearly 50 different schools’ gyms are granted. There is a constant shortage of large school gyms.

The fifth sports hall in Espoo was completed in Matinkylä in early 2024. It brings a desired additional facility to the training conditions of the sports that need a lot of space both vertically and horizontally. The hall can also be used for organising national and international sports events. However, the use of the hall is burdened by matriculation examinations. The hall is too good for inefficient use.

In June 2023, the Kameleonten liikuntahalli sports hall was completed in the Leppävaara Sports Park, where we buy time slots for artistic gymnastics, the Leiki ja liiku activities of children of early childhood education age as well as the Urhea activities. There are also instructed exercise classes for seniors.

We buy time slots at ice rinks for the use of early childhood education and schoolchildren in a regionally comprehensive manner. The rinks are controlled by Jääurheilun tuki.

The situation in Espoo swimming halls is challenging for swimming clubs and the physical activity and swimming opportunities of local residents. In order to maintain swimming halls’ water area per inhabitant at the current level, Espoo needs a new swimming hall per 60,000 new residents. Discussion on the construction of a new swimming hall should already be underway.

Time slots for using the swimming halls outside their normal opening hours are granted to adult swimmers and sports that cannot be practised during the hall’s opening hours. The use of the pools will also change. Therefore, we want to study the change from the perspective of new swimming hall investments. The new facility and service solutions would make it possible for people to engage in various types of water sports in a versatile manner, as well as to utilise digital devices in services. At the same time, however, it is necessary to leave sufficient space for swimming. An adjustable base allows for efficient and appropriate use of a pool.

School accommodation is of great importance to the city, as Espoo houses the largest junior tournaments and camps in the country. This also supports the city’s own goals of being one of the most significant cities for junior and youth activities. Temporary school accommodation facilities are taken into account when planning, renovating and constructing new school premises. The maximum accommodation space available in school gyms and classrooms is 4,400 guests/night.

Espoo is a city of football, swimming and gymnastics: according to the collected data, these sports account for more than half of the total number of children and young people involved in club activities. In some sports, there would be more participants, but the sport is expensive for the participants. The partnership model treats different sports unequally.

A total of 43,000 people under the age of 20 are involved in club activities. Some of them practise more than one sport. In sports where the lack of facilities is acute, it has not been possible to expand the club activities. An increasing number of clubs have built or rented premises and thus sought solutions to their lack of facilities. Costs are rising and inequality between sports is increasing.

People involved in sports closely related to youth culture, such as disc golf and skateboarding, are independently physically active without engaging in traditional club activities. Clubs are finding it increasingly challenging to engage people in their sports.

The utilisation rate of large halls, ice arenas, sports halls and football halls on weekday evenings and at weekends is high.

The biggest support for sports clubs from the city is the premises subsidy. We charge clubs approximately 3–15% of the actual costs of the premises. In addition, we assist clubs with general and rental grants. Grants are important in that they can be used to offset the injustice that has arisen from the use of city premises for different sports.

The increased price of sports and exercise hobbies is a threat to the recreational activities of children and young people and to the increase in the number of participants in clubs. Since members and participants finance sports clubs’ activities, this also poses a challenge for sports clubs.

“In 2040, Espoo residents engage in physical activity across different sports. Practising more than one sport is easy thanks to the cooperation between clubs and different sports. Today’s creative, youth-culture sports have become mainstream.”

Operations, sites and rental grants for sports and exercise are awarded for clubs registered in Espoo that offer training to people aged under 20.

The sports activity grant is awarded annually to approximately 70 clubs. The sports activity grant is only 3.4% of the clubs' expenses. The grant share per young person is approximately EUR 33 a year. The facility subsidy received by a person engaging in the activity is EUR 200–600 per person.

Sports activity grants are allocated to the promotion of clubs’ low-threshold activities. The amount of the grant is partly based on the number of hobby groups led by the club. Thus, the club activities also support the city’s strategic goals.

The sports activity grant for special groups has been increased four-fold to EUR 100,000 per year. It is awarded to 30 clubs or associations. The aim is to double the grant.  Espoo sports clubs bear well their social responsibility in helping special groups stay physically active.

Rental grants are important in terms of equality between different sports. EUR 3,090,000 is allocated to rental grants for about 50 clubs for a total of more than 100 facilities. The grant amount is approximately EUR 100 per participant under 20 years of age. The grant amount can cover approximately 35% of the rents paid by the clubs. If the grant percentage decreases, it threatens the equality of club activities and, above all, it creates a threat of polarisation in sports.

The number of club activity participants shows that the price of hobbies directs young people to the most affordable hobbies. There is a risk that, for this reason, hobbies related to physical activity will have to be abandoned. Therefore, the city must have a sufficient number of purchased time slots for community-owned premises so that engaging in physical activity remains possible.

The amount of rent grants should be approximately 40% of the costs of the premises. For every EUR 1 million invested in construction by clubs, the rental grant must be increased by approximately EUR 35,000 so that the grant amount remains close to the 40% level. In the case of facilities rented directly by the clubs, the grant should be 40% of the rent.

Espoo has diverse nature. Outdoors and local sports facilities create everyday experiences for residents. Espoo's local exercise place program (2019–2028) brings mobility within everyone’s reach. The importance of outdoor exercise has increased strongly in recent years. Sufficient outdoor areas for residents’ local physical activity and sports clubs’ exercise spaces must be ensured in a developing urban environment. Versatile two-hectare local sports parks meet these needs. Outdoor exercise spaces are a cost-effective investment.

Espoo has six sports parks. The Leppävaara, Laaksolahti, Central Espoo, Espoonlahti, Matinkylä and Tapiola sports parks are located in Espoo’s regional centres. Sports parks provide residents and sports clubs with versatile year-round conditions for sports and outdoor activities. They are high-quality sports competition and event centres as well as local exercise spaces. Balanced regional development is important.

Smaller exercise parks in different parts of Espoo complement the offerings of sports parks. In addition to time slots reserved for clubs, sports parks have areas, fields and local exercise spaces that can be freely utilised. Artificial ice also enables skating during mild winters.

We encourage the active lifestyle of working-age people through pedestrian and bicycle transport networks and outdoor routes. Our network of ski tracks is extensive and of high quality and forms its own entity in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Our well-maintained network of outdoor recreation routes runs close to almost every Espoo resident, as it reaches from the magnificent Nuuksio to the seaside where it becomes a waterfront walkway. Espoo’s cycling promotion programme has been implemented in such a way that cycling is safe.

The responsibility for maintaining the sports facilities of Espoo lies with the staff. The responsibility for the maintenance of the premises lies with the Premises Department. We cooperate with clubs in the controlling of sports facilities and use the purchasing services of companies and cooperation partners in restoration.

Under the leadership of the City Planning Department, we have prepared recreation visions for the major districts of Espoonlahti, Leppävaara, Matinkylä and Tapiola, as well as a maritime recreation vision for Espoo. A recreation vision for Espoon keskus and Kauklahti is currently being made. Their goal has been to form an understanding of the overall need for exercise and recreation services in 2050.

Espoo Master Plan 2060 is being prepared. The inclusion of significant indoor and outdoor area provisions for exercise and sports in the master plan must be ensured. Principles and policies for the organisation of services have been drawn up for master plan work, and the placement of future operations has been assessed. In summer 2024, the master plan unit commissioned a survey of Espoo’s sports parks. The survey investigated sports and exercise facilities in relation to the population and the regional offering of sports facilities in 2060.

Based on population forecasts and accessibility, planning must ensure the possibility to implement swimming beaches, sports parks and sports halls, for competitive and top sports as well. In addition, ports and outdoor recreation areas must be secured through planning. The planning and implementation of sports facilities must take into account the increase in operating capacity and the requirements for changes in opening hours.

Vision 2040: "Sports facilities are accessible by public transport and can be converted into multi-purpose meeting places, even for the needs of young people and those in need of support. These types of facilities offer good job opportunities for young people.

We have enabled the construction of new ports and boat winter storage areas, as well as developed existing services. We have adapted to sports trends and alternative sports such as parkour, drone races and e-bike racing."

Swimming halls and our sports parks are versatile centres for friendly competition, they are local sports spaces where freely accessible pools, artificial ice, outdoor gyms and fitness stairs inspire different user groups to engage in a variety of physical activities. Sports parks have a comprehensive range of performance spots for different sports, sports halls and several large fields. We strive for regionally balanced development of conditions and service provision.

Sports parks are easily accessible, as outdoor routes and pedestrian and bicycle routes allow for fast connections from nearby areas and public transport runs close to the sports parks. The accessibility of sports parks is not yet realised in all respects. The areas are in active use all year round.

Sports parks are places for organising sports events and some sports parks can regularly host international top sports events and competitions. Some sports parks are also suitable for concerts. The conditions of the sports parks can be utilised by different user groups from morning to evening. Sports parks are vibrant, intergenerational meeting places in the everyday life of local residents.

Espoo’s sports parks have their own special features that direct their development. The goal should be that families are comfortable coming to sports parks and that there is something for everyone to do in the sports park area, regardless of age or physical condition.

Practice and competition activities require the construction of large sports parks. For example, the Kameleonten multi-purpose hall was completed in the Leppävaara Sports Park in 2023, and a football stadium will be built in the Tapiola Sports Park. Planning is used to reserve the areas required by the new sports parks, according to the projected number of residents.

Sufficient indoor sports facilities will be built next to new schools for the needs of schoolchildren's P.E. classes. They will also need to be able to meet the needs of sports clubs that use them in the evenings and during school holidays. Partnership projects must also be taken into account in terms of indoor sports facilities when planning new schools. In the vicinity of schools, outdoor sports fields of sufficient size with artificial grass surfaces will be built to serve physical education, sports club activities and the physical activity of people of all ages. School yards and fields serve as local sports facilities for residents.

“In 2040, Espoo will have a large and diverse sports centre for residents and sports clubs that is suitable for different ports and which is maintained by the city. The centre is also affordable for residents."

Vision 2040: "Outdoor gyms have made strength training available to everyone. The location of outdoor gyms near people’s homes as well as their nature-oriented environment encourage Espoo residents to be physically active. The popularity of the gyms has been increased by their versatility and the good quality of their equipment. (City of Espoo, 2024b).

The number of local sports facilities and outdoor gyms has been increased annually and they have been developed to be more accessible to all user groups. Outdoor exercise equipment is part of the offering of sports parks and pedestrian and bicycle routes, enabling approachable training. Residents have contributed to the development of outdoor gyms, and different user groups’ special needs have been taken into account in the work. In Espoo, there are also skills-focused exercise parks where Espoo residents of different ages can develop their sports and exercise skills."

Espoo residents appreciate nature, outdoor recreation routes, the maritime Espoo, the Rantaraitti waterfront walkway and the extensive Central Park. Nature offers equal and non-discriminatory opportunities for being physically active. When planning nature services, accessibility must be taken into account. All outdoor exercise is intergenerational, a platform for families to be physically active together.

When it snows, our network of ski tracks offers 200 kilometres of cleanly maintained routes, almost a quarter of which are illuminated. The ski track foundations serve as a support network for all kinds of outdoor recreation in nature throughout the year. The ski tracks of Oittaa, Leppävaara and Central Park covered with artificial snow extend the skiing season and ensure the enjoyment of skiing even in low-snow winters. Thanks to the preserved snow solution, the skiing season can start early.

The 600-kilometre ski track network of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area could well be one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Nowhere else in the world can such a thing be offered in a metropolitan area. In the summer, the ski tracks offer an unrivalled cycling network. This also benefits cycling tourism.

There is a forested wilderness in Nuuksio in Espoo, as well as a beautiful archipelago that residents can experience by utilising the archipelago boat traffic.

Intergenerational services also include an artificial ice network that ensures skating conditions even in mild winters. In 2040, there will be almost 20 artificial ice areas in different parts of Espoo.

For years, the spearhead of our services has been the development of conditions closely related to nature. Outdoor recreation routes are one of the most popular sports facilities, and Nuuksio is one of the most popular national parks in Finland (Metsähallitus, 2023).

The planning and construction of outdoor recreation routes is guided by the general plan of outdoor recreation routes. Our network of outdoor recreation routes extends from the seashore to the wilderness of Nuuksio in the north. The network is extensive and of high quality. Sports opportunities range from hiking to cycling, from orienteering to swimming. All are connected to nature.

Outdoor recreation areas, such as Oittaa, Pirttimäki and Nuuksio, are extensive hiking and outdoor recreation areas where you can find various hiking services, including campfire sites and camping areas. A wide range of competitions and events are also organised in outdoor recreation areas and routes. Such sports include orienteering and trail running. Events should also be made possible in the future, free of unreasonable restrictions.

“Nature and the opportunities it offers are made available to everyone, accessibly and inexpensively.”

“Local nature is accessible to everyone in Espoo, less than 300 metres from residents’ homes.”

Espoo has 58 kilometres of seashore and over 100 islands. The Baltic Sea is a unique neighbour to the city and offers great experiences for Espoo residents. We strengthen our maritime identity by improving accessibility in the archipelago of Espoo. The diversity and breadth of the archipelago ensure good starting points for the development of services and a visit to the archipelago.

We offer the opportunities of maritime Espoo extensively to local residents. The city owns and maintains eleven outdoor recreation islands. With the current number of visitors, our archipelago is already at its limit. Significant improvement of services is not possible without an electricity, water and sewerage network. In the development of existing and possible new outdoor recreation island services, attention must be paid to things such as berths, guest service facilities and archipelago boat routes. Espoo has a lot of coastline, but few places where going ashore is possible and only some modern places for water sports.

Maritime Espoo has tremendous potential for vitality. One solution to reconcile supply with increasing demand could be the introduction of new outdoor recreation islands. For example, the introduction of Tvijälp, located in the Tapiola major district, would increase the equality of maritime Espoo. The island would be accessible on foot and by bicycle and could be connected to the Rantaraitti waterfront walkway and its services. In addition to a nature trail, a guest harbour with its services, which the city has hoped for, could be built on the island, which would also increase tourism to Espoo.

“The Espoo archipelago is a sports space for all Espoo residents. It is open all year round, and its active and community-oriented operations attract people across municipality borders.”

Espoo has a total of 33 marinas, 13 archipelago boat piers and 4 guest boat piers. The biggest challenges for ports are related to the ageing of their piers, the channels becoming shallower and the increasing size of boats. In addition, there is room for improvement in the accessibility of the ports, piers and archipelago.

Espoo lacks a high-quality guest marina. The basic services of such a marina include berth service, sanitary facilities, sauna and café-restaurant services. When equipping ports and islands, solutions that reduce the burden on the environment as well as different weather conditions must be taken into account. It is important that the marina is also accessible by public transport.

In the development of port operations, the placement of the boats’ washing, lifting and maintenance equipment and the securing of adequate winter storage facilities is important. The popularity of different boat sizes must also be taken into account. There must be room for a change in boating culture.

We are actively looking for partners and entrepreneurs to implement versatile services for maritime Espoo and the Rantaraitti waterfront walkway. Partnerships with boat clubs and sailing clubs will be expanded, and boating enthusiasts will increasingly be responsible for the maintenance of piers and the management of port areas. Cooperation with the City of Helsinki will increase in terms of archipelago traffic, guest marinas, marine technology and fishing activities.

Attention is paid to the safety of marinas. Customers want to reduce theft and vandalism targeting boats. This increasingly means a willingness to buy a boat berth and winter storage spot in a guarded area. The electric pier ports are easy to use and accessible. They reduce the threat of vandalism.

Vision 2040: "The share of large boats of the entire boat stock is growing. Additional boat berths are needed for boats over ten metres long and over three metres wide. Accessibility is taken into account in this boating group by building gangways. The use of co-owned boats and rental boats is increasing.

The popularity of sailboating continues thanks to its environmental friendliness and low energy consumption. For the same reason, the use of electric boats is developing and will be very common in 2040. Many boating enthusiasts are concerned about oil and hydrocarbon emissions from boats. In the planning of new piers and the renovation of old ones, electric boating has been taken into account with charging infrastructure. There must be enough charging points and boat berths for the users of electric boats. This should also be taken into account in winter storage areas.

The popularity of rowing boats has increased as more and more people want to go fishing on a rowing boat. This activity is inexpensive and ecological. Rowing boats are taken into account in the marinas as their own growing group, and they will be provided with boat berths. Paddling and sailboarding are also growing in popularity, and wingsurfing has become a new subsport. Coastal rowing at sea is a growing form of fitness rowing.

The search process for boat berths, winter storage spots and storage spots is automated, and the customer will be able to independently search for the boat berth from the berths provided by the booking system."

Top-level sports are part of society, part of broad international cooperation. They bring joy and benefits to the athletes, the spectators and the whole community. While elite sports have lost some of their previous importance as unifiers of the nation, they still build a sense of community, strengthen national and local identity, teach how to deal with disappointment, and evoke emotions and create shared experiences. Three out of four Finns are interested in the international success of Finnish athletes and 70% enjoy watching top-level sports. (Finnish Olympic Committee and Finnish Paralympic Committee, 2018.)

For cities, sports offer fame, attraction power and community spirit. A top athlete from Espoo is a positive role model, an idol and an inspiration that encourages young Espoo residents to be physically active: sports can make the impossible possible.

Top-level sports are supported by the wider Espoo-based sports clubs community. Competitive and top-level sports in this context refer to the goal-oriented and organised sport activities of over 12-year-olds (Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport KIHU, 2024). They are based on successful youth sports in Espoo as well as high-quality coaching. In Espoo, club activities directly offer employment to hundreds of people. Every year, we have around 200 national-level medallists in various sports. Every year, we organise our own sports gala Urheilugaala, which raises the esteem of Espoo athletes, sports and the people supporting them. The basis for success is created by the top sports clubs in Espoo – communities to which people want to belong.

Espoo is a good example of a functional and goal-oriented multi-professional athlete support network and cooperation between sports, clubs, educational institutions and the city. There are three upper secondary schools in Espoo that support top-level sports. In autumn 2023, about 70 students started in the Urhea sports programme at the upper secondary schools Haukilahden lukio and Leppävaaran lukio.

The Omnia vocational school follows a so-called continuous application principle. There are two lower secondary schools with an Urhea programme: Leppävaaran koulu and Tiistilän koulu. In addition, some Urhea pupils attend other lower secondary schools in Espoo.

Resources determine the direction of competitive and top-level sports. The downsides of elite sports, such as ethical problems and the impact of major events on the climate and the environment, must be recognised. The great challenge for Espoo is guaranteeing conditions of sufficient quality for competitive and top-level sports.

Top sports must be viewed realistically and honestly. A truthful situational picture of elite sports and the factors that influence them will help us define our attitude towards elite sports and focus on the development of the essentials. The role of competitive and top-level sports in building a sustainable Espoo should be strengthened. This requires closer cooperation between the city and sports actors, as well as investment in high-quality coaching and support for young people. Our competitive and top-level sports clubs are ready to contribute to the principles of sustainable education and to give their support to all young people who participate in them.

Cooperation with top-level sports and Aalto University could open up a new perspective for elite sports in Espoo. This is a significant opportunity and worth investing in, and could result in a model that benefits all parties.

“We are a responsible and ethically sustainable elite sports city”

Espoo is an active, bold, curious and rapidly internationalising event city. At the heart of everything are local residents, communities and companies, the significance of which for shaping the Espoo identity through events is irreplaceable. By providing a platform for events, we build a partnership with event producers with an emphasis on Espoo and the city’s identity. Athletics, basketball and tennis events have already found their “home” in Espoo.

In 2023, a total of 24 cooperation events of Sports and Exercise were held. These included the European Figure Skating Championships, the Davis Cup for tennis, the European Under-23 Championships in Athletics, the Espoo liikkuu Tournament and Elisa Masters Espoo. 

• Kuninkuusravit
• Stadium Sports Camp
• Orienteering competition FinnSpring 
• FIMBA – World Championship of Senior Basketball
• Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship
• Gymnastics event Voimistelupäivät
• Stafettkarnevalen
• Opening of the European Week of Sport – School Action Day
• Motonet GP
• Fencing CC Espoo Fencing Challenge
• European Championship, World Championship and Masters of Lighting class
• Giro d’Espoo and cycling event Perhepyöräily
• Espoo Rantamaraton
• Finlandia Trophy Espoo
• Finnish Championship of synchronized skating 
• Tallink Tournament / Espoo Liikkuu Tournament
• Home games of Finland national basketball team (Susijengi)
• Tennis Davis Cup
• Rollo swimming
• Ringette Women’s and Youth World Championship
• Elisa Masters Espoo
• Figure skating World Championships
• Goalball International SEGL – Champions League Qualifying
• Tournament
• Skiing Youth Finnish Championship
• Athletics U23 European Championship
• Ice Hockey U18 World Championship
• Road Racing Finnish Championship

Espoo hosts profile and major events related to sports. Profile events are events that arise in Espoo communities and strengthen Espoo’s attractiveness, local identity and pride. Every year, sports clubs in Espoo organise hundreds of top-level league or national championship matches, competitions and tournaments that strengthen the local sense of community and create lasting vitality. We are a significant and attractive junior sports city.

Major national and international sports and exercise events are mainly carried out in partnership with sports federations and Espoo-based clubs. Major events are a significant reason to travel to Espoo (Salmi Platform Oy, 2024).

“The appreciation of top-level sports in Espoo increases people’s sense of community and emotional connection to their home city.”

Event cooperation within the city and with partners is developed. Event principles have been created for the city. An impact study for events is an established practice. We compile uniform event statistics and annual calendar templates, as well as a guidebook on how to be a sustainable event city (Kestävä tapahtumakaupunki). We also develop event marketing.

Managing new sports and cultures requires keeping up with the times and having readiness for change and being flexible. The events are subject to competition between cities. The range of the cooperation events of Sports and Exercise is kept diverse so that they speak to as wide an audience as possible.

Nature is Espoo’s strength. Diverse outdoor exercise conditions make it possible to organise events of different types and levels. In 2040, Espoo will be an attractive enabler for national and international nature exercise events.

A strong partnership with national and international actors guarantees our credibility as a sports event city.

Espoo liikkuu is a community for all physically active people and those who help them be physically active. Joint marketing campaigns, events and carrying out joint activities ensure that all types of physically active people feel that they belong to the Espoo liikkuu community.

In addition to our unit, the Espoo liikkuu brand strengthens and supports the visibility of clubs.

The Espoo Moves community brings together people from different sports and cultures. Small clubs and communities, as well as large sports clubs, work together a lot. The community develops, grows and has a strong presence in social media. In addition, sports facilities are key meeting points for the community.

The Espoo liikkuu community logo is a sign of equal and high-quality sports activities, which are represented by all sports clubs, associations and physically active people in Espoo.

Espoo’s demographic change is visible in sports and exercise so that the activities of the Espoo liikkuu community are genuinely multicultural. Popular sports of individual communities, such as cricket, are familiar to all Espoo residents, and Espoo has sports facilities suitable for practising these sports.

Members of the community influence the direction in which sports and sports facilities in Espoo develop. Espoo liikkuu enables the civic activity of sports in Espoo. Activities outside organisation organisations, the so-called fourth sector, is expanding, which means that Espoo residents are increasingly organising sports activities on their own initiative and in a self-directed manner.

Artificial intelligence challenges communications, but also creates new opportunities. It assists in responding to and analysing feedback from residents effectively. On the other hand, with the help of artificial intelligence, the production of information and content becomes easier as the amount of data increases. Then it will be even more important for Espoo and the Espoo liikkuu community to stand out in communication channels with people’s own and genuine stories.

“In 2040, Espoo residents are physically active with their families, at workplaces, in clubs, in schools, in day-care centres and in virtual world communities. People are also physically active on their own, and this is not tied to a specific time of day.”

Conditions create physical activity. Built sports facilities and diverse nature, as well as safe routes, form a whole that encourages people to spend time outside their homes. We want to offer something for everyone, not everything for everyone.

Physical activity and outdoor recreation are present in the lives of Espoo residents. Club activities alone involve more than 150,000 residents as participants, parents or grandparents. Physical activity in its various forms provides the best possible social, cultural and sustainable meeting platform. It provides a place to strengthen your identity and establish lifelong friendships.

Activity and participation play an invaluable role in the construction of pleasure. Physical activity in its various forms provides emotional experiences and is the basis for individual, human-sized stories. In addition, better fitness and ability to function increase everyday well-being.

Being physically active in the sports facilities in Espoo is pleasant and safe for everyone. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or racism. Everyone is welcome to join us. Our club activities are also sustainable and ethical.

Physical activity is also intergenerational; it brings families together. It is something we all share. Exercise is a counterforce to changes in the world that make our everyday lives challenging, especially for young people. The fight for our time takes place in our pockets and minds. Leaving everyday stress behind to enjoy the joy of exercise may be more important now than ever before.

We challenge everyone to join us. We want our activities to have a significant, positive impact on the individual and society. Espoo does well when its residents are well.     

A thank you to all parties that contributed to the vision work and our partners! Let’s look forward to 2040 with a joyous mind.

Things change, but one thing remains: Espoo is active!

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City of Espoo (2024b). We lead with impact: We develop sports facilities and services in a knowledge-based manner. Retrieved on 31 October 2024 from https://www.espoo.fi/en/articles/we-lead-impact-we-develop-sports-facilities-and-services-knowledge-based-manner

(City of Espoo, 2024c). Toimintaympäristön tila Espoossa. https://www.espoo.fi/fi/toimintaympariston-tila-espoossa

Helsingin seudun aluesarjat -tilastokanta and Statistics Finland (2023). Väestö äidinkielen (kaikki kielet) ja iän mukaan 31.12. Retreived on 19 July 2024 from https://kaupunkitieto.hel.fi/fi/helsingin-tilastotietokannathttps://kaupunkitieto.hel.fi/fi/helsingin-tilastotietokannat(external link, opens in a new window)

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Kinnunen, J., Tuomela, M. & Mäyrä, H. (2022). Pelaajabarometri 2022. Kohti uutta normaalia. Tampere University, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-2732-3(external link, opens in a new window)

Metsähallitus (2023). Kansallispuistojen suosio kasvaa: Uudet ja kunnostetut kohteet houkuttelevat yhä enemmän kävijöitä. Retrieved on 17 July 2024 from https://www.metsa.fi/en/press-releases/popularity-of-national-parks-increasing-new-and-renovated-sites-attracting-more-visitors/(external link, opens in a new window)

Paralympic Committee (2024). Kohderyhmät. Retrieved on 19 July 2024 from https://www.paraurheilu.fi/fi/269/kohderyhmat(external link, opens in a new window)

Salmi Platform Oy (2024). Salmi Eventlizer tapahtuma-analyysi Espoon kaupungille 2023–2024.

Suomen elektronisen urheilun liitto – SEUL ry (2024). Retrieved on 1 June 2024 from www.seul.fi(external link, opens in a new window)

Finnish Olympic Committee and Finnish Paralympic Committee (2018). Huippu-urheilun yhteiskunnallinen perustelu. Retrived on 19 July 2024 from https://olympiakomitea.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Materiaalipankki/Tietoa+meist%C3%A4/Huippu-urheilu/(external link, opens in a new window)

UKK Institute (2021). Työikäisten liikkuminen Suomessa. Retreived on 19 July 2024 from https://ukkinstituutti.fi/liikkuminen/suomalaisten-liikkuminen-tutkittua-tietoa-tyoikaisten-ja-ikaihmisten-liikkumisesta/tyoikaisten-liikkuminen-suomessa(external link, opens in a new window)

National Sports Council (2023). Liikuntatoimijoiden tilannekuva - koronasta palautuminen ja energiakriisin vaikutukset. VLN julkaisuja 2023:2. https://www.liikuntaneuvosto.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Liikuntatoimijoiden-tilannekuva-%E2%80%93-koronasta-palautuminen-ja-energiakriisin-vaikutukset-VLN-julkaisuja-2023-2.pdf(external link, opens in a new window)City of Espoo (2022). Täyttä elämää ikääntyneenä - Suunnitelma Espoon ikääntyneen väestön hyvinvoinnin tukemiseksi 2022–2025. https://static.espoo.fi/cdn/ff/kD2vqFwGbASwyJPO4JdqKTj41Mzd-U3B9ZpaU7fIDEc/1656573492/public/2022-06/T%C3%A4ytt%C3%A4%20el%C3%A4m%C3%A4%C3%A4%20ik%C3%A4%C3%A4ntyneen%C3%A4%202022-2025.pdf(external link, opens in a new window)

City of Espoo (2024a). Espoo Climate Watch. Retrieved on 19 July 2024 from https://ilmastovahti.espoo.fi/(external link, opens in a new window)

City of Espoo (2024b). We lead with impact: We develop sports facilities and services in a knowledge-based manner. Retrieved on 31 October 2024 from https://www.espoo.fi/en/articles/we-lead-impact-we-develop-sports-facilities-and-services-knowledge-based-manner

(City of Espoo, 2024c). Toimintaympäristön tila Espoossa. https://www.espoo.fi/fi/toimintaympariston-tila-espoossa

Helsingin seudun aluesarjat -tilastokanta and Statistics Finland (2023). Väestö äidinkielen (kaikki kielet) ja iän mukaan 31.12. Retreived on 19 July 2024 from https://stat.hel.fi/pxweb/fi/Aluesarjat/Aluesarjat__vrm__vaerak__umkun/Hginseutu_VA_VR04_Vakiluku_aidinkieli_ika.px/(external link, opens in a new window)

Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport KIHU (2024). Kunnat urheilun tukena. Selvitys keskisuurten ja suurten kuntien toimintatavoista ja tukimuodoista organisoidulle urheilulle.

University of Jyväskylä (2024). Lipas database. Statistics. Retrieved on 5 September 2024 from https://lipas.fi/tilastot(external link, opens in a new window)

Kari, T. (2017). Exergaming Usage: Hedonic and Utilitarian Aspects. Dissertation. Jyväskylä studies in computing 260. University of Jyväskylä http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-6956-1(external link, opens in a new window)

Kinnunen, J., Tuomela, M. & Mäyrä, H. (2022). Pelaajabarometri 2022. Kohti uutta normaalia. Tampere University, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-2732-3(external link, opens in a new window)

Metsähallitus (2023). Kansallispuistojen suosio kasvaa: Uudet ja kunnostetut kohteet houkuttelevat yhä enemmän kävijöitä. Retrieved on 17 July 2024 from https://www.luontoon.fi/-/kansallispuistojen-suosio-kasvaa-uudet-ja-kunnostetut-kohteet-houkuttelevat-yha-enemman-kavijoita(external link, opens in a new window)

Paralympic Committee (2024). Kohderyhmät. Retrieved on 19 July 2024 from https://www.paralympia.fi/avoimet-ovet/kohderyhmat(external link, opens in a new window)

Salmi Platform Oy (2024). Salmi Eventlizer tapahtuma-analyysi Espoon kaupungille 2023–2024.

Suomen elektronisen urheilun liitto – SEUL ry (2024). Retrieved on 1 June 2024 from www.seul.fi(external link, opens in a new window)

Finnish Olympic Committee and Finnish Paralympic Committee (2018). Huippu-urheilun yhteiskunnallinen perustelu. Retrived on 19 July 2024 from https://olympiakomitea.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Materiaalipankki/Tietoa+meist%C3%A4/Huippu-urheilu/(external link, opens in a new window)

UKK Institute (2021). Työikäisten liikkuminen Suomessa. Retreived on 19 July 2024 from https://ukkinstituutti.fi/liikkuminen/suomalaisten-liikkuminen-tutkittua-tietoa-tyoikaisten-ja-ikaihmisten-liikkumisesta/tyoikaisten-liikkuminen-suomessa(external link, opens in a new window)

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The Espoo liikkuu 2040 text was parsed using artificial intelligence:

ChatGPT (versio 14.3.2023)(external link, opens in a new window)

Microsoft CoPilot(external link, opens in a new window)

BIOS research unit (2019). Ecological reconstruction.(external link, opens in a new window)

City of Espoo, Sports and Exercise Services (2018). Liikuntapalveluiden tarina(external link, opens in a new window)

City of Espoo, Sports and Exercise Services and Public Works Department (2019). Espoo’s local sports facilities programme 2019–2028.(external link, opens in a new window)

City of Espoo, Public Works Department (2020). Kotiseudun ulkoilupolut (outdoor recreation routes in home city) programme 2021–2030. Kaupungintekniikan keskuksen julkaisuja.(external link, opens in a new window)

City of Espoo (2021). The Espoo Story.

City of Espoo (2023). Recreational visions of Suur-Tapiola, Suur-Matinkylä, Suur-Leppävaara and Espoonlahti 2050.

City of Espoo (2024). Population.

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Statistics database Kelasto.(external link, opens in a new window)

Michelsen, K-E., Lehtonen, K., Rantala, K., Jokisipilä, M. & Mäkinen, J. (2022). Suomalainen huippu-urheilu tarvitsee luottamusta. Huippu-urheilun arviointiryhmän loppuraportti. Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön julkaisuja 2022:25.(external link, opens in a new window)

Mäkinen, J. & Paavolainen, L. (2020). Huippu-urheilun sisäinen arviointi. Retrived on 19 July 2024.(external link, opens in a new window)

Pidä Saaristo Siistinä ry (2024). Roope-satama on ympäristöystävällinen satama.(external link, opens in a new window)

STYLE-tutkimus. Publications.(external link, opens in a new window)

The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra (2023). Megatrends 2023.(external link, opens in a new window)