In this issue:

1.   New Grant from the EU Commission Awarded
2.   New EHFA Call for Project Partners
3.   EHFA 2nd National Associations Forum
4.   EHFA 2nd Executive Leadership Forum
5.   Upcoming Industry & EHFA Events
6.   Less Mills:"The Future of Fitness"
7.   New EU Competence on Sport
8.   Members' Corner

EHFA is currently developing a project for potential collaboration with the European Commission and is seeking partners from its members, and particularly from VET (vocational education and training) and higher education providers and national associations. 

EHFA is looking to further develop the European Qualifications Framework in line with the Commission’s desire to explore the establishment of a Sector Qualifications Framework for the fitness industry.

EHFA is already well placed to these developments founded on the existing and new standards work and the verification service it offers.

To ensure the selection of partners meets the project objectives and overarching EHFA plans, the following criteria will be used in assessing and measuring the suitability of those expressing an interest:

1.    Preferably not been involved in previously successful EHFA projects

2.    It is preferred that they are members of EHFA

3.    They are prepared to match fund (in kind project contributions or cash) and to attend all project meetings

4.    They are an organisation which meets the focus of the project brief

5.    Can demonstrate experience and expertise

6.    Level of support demonstrated to the objectives of EHFA.

The EHFA Executive Team will decide from the total applications received to ensure that there is a reasonable balance of partners, and it must be accepted that it is not possible to include everyone and that some further evaluation may be needed before the final partners are selected.

For more details about the project, and to make an expression of interest please send an e-mail to the EHFA Secretariat by the 25th January 2010 at the latest, and include “Project Partner" as the subject line in your e-mail.

• EHFA Annual General Assembly 2010 – is taking place in Essen, at Mövenpick Hotel, on Friday 23 April 2010, from 15:00 to 17:00hrs.  A draft Agenda will be circulated one month prior to the meeting.   The deadline for Nominations to the EHFA Board is 1 February 2010. Please contact the Secretariat for more information. 
  
  
• EHFA 3^rd European Fitness Forum - for its third edition, the European Fitness Forum is heading South. Like the previous years, this Forum brings together professionals from the fitness industry to discuss the current trends of the sector and the latest news from the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS). The Forum will be taking place in Madrid, on 10 & 11 May 2010.
  
  

• During Forum Il Nuovo Club 2010 in Bologna, Italy, Herman Rutgers will give a speech on “Fitness and the healthcare involvement: Friend or Foe" - on Friday 26 February 2010.
  
  

• IHRSA 29th Annual International Convention & Trade Show is scheduled for 10-13 March 2010, in San Diego, USA.
  
  
  

“The Future of Fitness” White Paper, researched and written by The Nielsen Company and published by Les Mills, explores the trends that may shape human fitness and activity, and their effect on the fitness industry over the next few decades.

It outlines the key challenges that confront the global fitness sector as a result and encourages the industry to stay “fresh, relevant and competitive” by creating and embracing the opportunity that arises from a number of emerging challenges.  These include:

• Providing fitness solutions to health problems such as diabetes, obesity or ageing may not be enough to sustain the fitness industry’s future.
• Continued innovation in science, medicine and the digital world will have significant impact on how consumers achieve fitness.
• Even the key benefits of today’s fitness industry – including weight control and wellness promotion – could be rendered irrelevant by cheaper, easier “quick fixes”.

The global industry is encouraged to share this White Paper freely with their colleagues and friends, and comment in online discussion on www.futureoffitnesswhitepaper.com

The "Future of Fitness" can be downloaded here.

With the Lisbon Treaty giving the EU a formal competence on sport, the European Commission is about to launch a wide stakeholder consultation to prepare for the first EU sports program, expected to be launched in 2012. 

According to Michal Krejza,  Head of Unit of the DG EAC / Sports Unit, an EU sports programme could be designed to: 

• Contribute to the promotion of European values (physical and moral integrity of sportspersons, fairness of competitions): projects could address issues such as doping, racism and protection of minors
• Foster the social and educational function of sport: projects could address issues such as gender equality, disability and co-operation between sports organisations
• Promote the transfer of knowledge, innovation, dialogue and good governance in the sector: projects could address issues such as licensing rules for clubs and mobility of sports experts
• Contribute to the promotion of a physically-active lifestyle: projects could address issues such as health promotion, and
• Foster co-operation with third countries and with international organisations in the field of sport. 

The Commission stresses that the 2007 White Paper will remain the cornerstone of its policies. An upcoming communication on the impact of Lisbon Treaty on sports will study areas not yet covered by the paper but now allowed for under Article 165 of the new Lisbon Treaty.