Dutch Fitness Industry Gets A Boost With The Setting Up of A NEW Joint Partnership
A new partnership has been formed between Dutch sports research agency, Mulier Institute and The Leisure Database Company.
Mulier Institute
Modelled on data collection systems pioneered by The Leisure Database Company, in the UK, the Mulier Institute wishes to emulate the success of the data collection in the UK. These systems are audit based and collect facility and member information from the entire market. Databases of the UK industry supply were created over 20 years ago and have been licensed to the UK Government, via their sports agency, Sport England for the past three years. From this relationship, The Leisure Database Company are now collecting participation data which will help influence government and private sector policies.
Dutch Fitness Monitor
The launch of the Dutch Fitness Monitor at the 6th IHRSA European Congress, in The Hague, in September generated the support of two Dutch umbrella organisations (Fit!vak and IHRSA). Additional support also came from the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, who have promised to provide a start-up grant.
The Dutch fitness monitor will mainly consist of a data bank that is updated annually. The Mulier Institute will use the monitor to generate reliable data on fitness and fitness participation in The Netherlands. In the future, the database will also be used as a benchmarking and market intelligence tool for the fitness industry. The first Dutch Fitness Industry Report is expected in 2007.
‘’We are pleased to have the extensive support of The Leisure Database Company in developing the first Dutch fitness monitor’’, says Maarten van Bottenburg, director of the Mulier Institute.