News from Sweden

August 2001 (pdf format)

january 2001

A Swedish Network of Adapted Physical Activity (SNAFA) was started in 1996 and has established a Swedish secretariat at the Wigforss Institute, Halmstad University. The Institute conducts research in areas relevant to social welfare as well as adapted physical activity (APA). Research into the situation of disabled people and other vulnerable groups is a major part of the Institute’s activities. The Institute is part of the School of Social and Health Sciences. In 1997 the network was more formalised, and the first meeting was held at Halmstad University. The meeting discussed adapted physical activity in connection with education and research on different university and school levels. The SNAFA has nearly 250 members today and organises annual meetings and conferences at Halmstad University. The University is a member of EARAPA and the EMDAPA-program. The members receive information about APA and the THENAPA-project four times a year. THENAPA is also linked to SNAFA’s new website www.hh.se/snafa

The THENAPA project was discussed during a meeting of SNAFA’s educational board at the Stockholm University College of Physical Education and Sports (20/3-2000). It was also included in the programme of the SNAFA-conference (30-31/10-2000) at Halmstad University. The theme of the conference was: Children-Movement-Sport and Disability. Information about THENAPA was presented during a conference in Bollnäs of Sports for the Disabled (8-9/3-2000). The conference resulted in a co-operation with the Swedish Sports Development Centre for the Disabled in Bollnäs, which is linked to Stockholm University College of Physical Education and Sports. Co-operation has also started among the universities, resource centres and schools that have education and research in APA. The responsible persons have been informed, and a meeting was organised during the SNAFA-conference in Halmstad. Five universities started to provide courses in APA. Halmstad University will have a one-year specialization course in APA in the new Sports Science programme starting in autumn 2000 (60 ECTS) and an obligatory course in APA (7.5 ECTS) in Physical Education and Health. The THENAPA project was discussed during a Nordic intensive course on APA in Beitostølen, Norway (29/8-3/9-2000), sponsored by the Nordic Council of Higher Education (NORDPLUS) and co-ordinated from Halmstad University. APA and the THENAPA-project were mentioned in a couple of articles in the autumn 2000 issue of The Journal of Swedish Sport Research, whose theme was ‘Sports for the Disabled’.

October 2000

A Swedish Network of Adapted Physical Activity (SNAPA) started in 1996 and has established a Swedish secretariat at the Wigforss Institute at Halmstad University. The Institute conducts research in areas relevant to social welfare and also adapted physical activity (APA). Research on the situation of disabled and other vulnerable groups is a major part of the activities. The Institute is a part of the School of Social-and Health Sciences. In 1997 the network was more formalised and the first meeting was organised at the Halmstad University. The meeting discussed adapted physical activity in connection with education and research on different university and school levels. The SNAPA has today nearly 190 members and organises annual meetings and conferences at Halmstad University. The University is a member of EARAPA and the EMDAPA-program. Members receive information about APA four times a year and information about THENAPA has been send out. THENAPA is also linked to SNAPA’s new website http://www.snafa.hh.se

The THENAPA-project has been discussed during a meeting of SNAPA’s educational board at the University of Sports in Stockholm (20 March 2000). It will also be included in the next SNAPA-conference (30-31 October 2000) at Halmstad University. During a conference in Bollnäs of sports for the disabled (8-9 March 2000), information about THENAPA was given. It resulted in a co-operation with a new centre for development of sports for disabled people at the University of Sports in Stockholm. A co-operation has also started with the universities and schools that have education and research in APA. The responsible persons have been informed and a meeting will be organised during autumn 2000. During a Nordic intensive course on APA in Beitostølen, Norway (29 August-3 September 2000) supported by the Nordic Council of Higher Education and co-ordinated from Halmstad University, the THENAPA-project will be discussed.

THENAPA Sweden
Lars Kristén