In the autumn, the municipality’s new sports vision was presented to omnisports club WZK Wassenaar in the Sterrenbad in Wassenaar. During a regular training evening, while young water polo players and competitive swimmers were active in the pool, Sports Alderman Laurens van Doeveren presented the vision to the board and members of the association. Those present included chairman Robert-Jan Kroon, representatives of Fit in Wassenaar and Wassenaars Sportcontact.
A vision of sport that connects and invites
With the sports vision, the municipality of Wassenaar opts for a future in which sports and exercise are accessible to everyone. The emphasis is on strong associations, sustainable accommodations and an environment that invites exercise. The municipality wants to get more residents into sports and give clubs space to develop and strengthen their role in society. The vision revolves around four pillars: strengthening sports providers, more exercise participation, an exercise-friendly environment and future-proof sports facilities. The sports vision thus forms the basis for a new and coherent sports policy for the coming years.
Sports councilor Laurens van Doeveren is proud of what sport means to Wassenaar: “It feels very good to be able to hand over the sports vision here, at WZK itself. It shows how close we want to be to the associations. The short lines, the direct contact with the people who make the sports offer possible day in and day out, that is exactly what makes our approach so valuable. Sports associations are the heart of our community and here you can see it happening vividly: people who play sports together, commit themselves and feel really connected to the club. With this vision we are taking an important step together to continue to support and strengthen that.
Handover in a sporty setting
The choice for an informal handover during a training evening was deliberate. Sport lives precisely in the places where people come together, are committed to their association and are active together. After the presentation, those present watched the training of the water polo players and discussions arose about the ambitions of the association and the importance of sport for the local community. For many WZK members, the association is more than a sports venue: it is a second home. That is exactly what the municipality of Wassenaar believes in: sport as a connecting force that brings people together.
