PtG Article 30.06.2022

Play the Game 2022 visits the Athletics Exploratorium at the University of Southern Denmark

After three days of trying to catch up on the last three years’ worth of work in the world of sport and politics, some delegates at Play the Game 2022 took an active break at the award-winning track-and-field training facility by the University of Southern Denmark.

Keywords: Play the Game 2022 Play the Game conferences

On the third day of Play the Game 2022, the delegates had the opportunity to forget about the political aspect in sport for a moment and go on an excursion to a unique track-and-field training facility at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).

When the bus arrived outside of Odeon, some of the delegates had already left their suit and tie at the hotel and entered the bus fully clothed in sportswear, whilst others just wanted to casually join in on the excursion to experience the inspirational location.

Man enters bus.

Photo: Thomas Søndergaard/Play the Game

At the facility, the delegates were welcomed by Troels Rasmussen, managing director of Play the Game, and Jens Troelsen from the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics at SDU.

In 2015, the SDU received an award from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) because of their track-and-field training facility called Athletics Exploratorium. The jury was impressed by the “creativity and imagination the architects packed into this track-and-field training facility”.

Now, it was time for the delegates to test out the creative facility and judge it for themselves.

The delegates at the conference visiting SDU.

Photo: Thomas Søndergaard/Play the Game

The SDU and some of the students at the university had arranged four activities: Crossfit, fitness, beach volleyball, and a guided walk.

A handful of the delegates went on a miniature field trip in the natural areas near the facility. The SDU has a walk’n’talk trail designed for the students and employees at the university, and during the walk, the group was introduced to the goals and history of the SDU.

Back at the facility, the delegates were fully engaged in the special warm-up routines.

Warmup 1.

Photo: Thomas Søndergaard/Play the Game

Warmup 2.

Photo: Thomas Søndergaard/Play the Game

The fitness group got the full experience of the small facilities within the running track. The participants took part in a mobility focused variant of fitness, which included an intense water relay. To wrap up the session, the instructors made them chuckle (and dance) like chickens.

Water relay.