Successful meeting 'Martial arts in your municipality'

A networking day for everyone involved in combat sports in the Netherlands: that was the meeting 'Martial arts in your municipality' held on 6 December 2018. Kenniscentrum Sport (the Dutch national knowledge centre for sport), NIVM and the Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (the Dutch combat sports authority), among others, came together with stakeholders from the combat and strength sports to inspire and inform municipal officials and administrators.

Research by Kenniscentrum Sport, in cooperation with universities and universities of applied sciences, examined the educational value of combat sports for young people. The first networking day took place in Utrecht in 2017. It resulted in five basic rules, rules that offer the combat sports sector practical guidance towards a safer and healthier combat sports climate.

During the meeting on 6 December, the Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit gave a presentation to those present on the risks associated with full contact combat sports events and how to prevent them. On average, more than 200 combat sports events take place in the Netherlands each year. Sooner or later, municipalities will be confronted with these events. What is involved in organising a combat sports event in a municipality? What constitutes sound policy? How should municipalities approach this? For this reason, the Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit has developed a guidance document on municipal policy. The aim of this guideline is to raise and safeguard the quality of combat sports galas. The key concepts for municipalities and the combat sports sector are: safety, health and a sound educational climate.

It was a lively, engaged and pleasant day. The event met a clear need and will certainly be followed up.