The ISFA 3v3 Street Football World Cup is coming to Utrecht

FC Utrecht and UMC Utrecht focus on raising awareness of heart failureFC Utrecht and UMC Utrecht are once again joining forces to raise awareness of heart failure. Over the coming week, the “Take care of your heart” campaign will be drawing attention to heart failure. Together, we are working to make the region healthier.In the Netherlands, 241,900 people suffer from heart failure. In addition, 255,000 Dutch people are unaware that they have heart failure. Heart failure is a chronic condition and is relatively unknown. Only one in five Dutch people are familiar with the symptoms of heart failure. It is often seen as an age-related disease caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. This makes early diagnosis difficult and leads to a lack of understanding for people with heart failure. Linda van Laake, cardiologist and professor of complex heart failure at UMC Utrecht, says:

‘Through collaborations, we make an impact inside and outside the pitch’Whoever thinks of football in Utrecht thinks of FC Utrecht. The club in the heart of the Netherlands is much more than that. In the middle of Utrecht, Heart of Health, the club contributes to a vital and healthy region. “Through our innovation platform FC Utrecht Next, starting companies can try out their innovations in the field of sports, health and exercise. Our stadium and the area around us is one big ‘living lab’.”Within FC Utrecht Next, the club collaborates with knowledge institutions, the government and companies. “We offer start-ups, students and young professionals a stage to debut and grow. With us you can experiment,” says Sonny van Kranenburg, Manager Brand Activation. During The Pitch event, start-ups present their plans. For example, Swappsport introduces people to different sports, Sport-Planner gets people moving, Mr. Fill makes smart litter bins to combat litter worldwide and the Lees Simpel App turns difficult texts into understandable language. “Together we form a coalition that wants to take the next step, the next level. With this initiative, we want to create a leading example in the field of innovation and cooperation.”SportcampusThe cooperation FC Utrecht seeks sets the club apart from other clubs in the region. “Companies that normally work individually work together because we throw up a ball. For example, we work with five top clubs around us in Sportcampus Traiectum on healthy urban living. It is a breeding ground for sports and vitality. There we bring talents, athletes and coaches together, among other things. But we also do research on sports, exercise and vitality.”Positive influence“As a soccer club in Utrecht, Heart of Health, we want to contribute to a more vital and healthy environment,” Van Kranenburg continued. “Through our strong brand, we can have a positive influence. We can reach and connect people. In our stadium, everyone from society comes together.”Meaningful changeUMC Utrecht is also a loyal partner. “Under the banner of ‘Wear that Band,’ we are creating awareness about measuring blood pressure,” says Dr. K. K., who is a member of the group. High blood pressure is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. On several occasions, captains wore a special “Wear that Band!” captain’s band to encourage people to measure their blood pressure annually. Van Kranenburg knows the collaboration makes meaningful change. “It touches me when a tough truck driver tells me he likes to have his blood pressure tested for his club, especially after losing a friend himself. That shows how valuable it is to spread the knowledge of UMC Utrecht.”Social connectionBut the club also has social connection high on its agenda. “As a club at the heart of society, we know how sport can fraternize. At matches, 20,000 people sit here with the same feeling. We don’t know each other, and together we form a unit.” To connect even more people, the club organizes, for example, a big Christmas dinner in Stadion Galgenwaard for lonely Utrechters at Christmas. By celebrating Christmas together they don’t feel alone. That contributes to good social fitness. “A lady of 100 years sends us an e-mail months in advance that she is looking forward to it. Nowadays she brings her friends from the nursing home. Wonderful!”Footballers as role modelsThe association also succeeds in inspiring young people by using soccer players as role models. For example, players explain to children at elementary school the importance of drinking water every day. “In the class where the soccer players drew attention to this, more water was drunk months later than in the class where the teacher talked about this. That’s the power of an athlete as a role model.”Heart of the neighborhoodFurthermore, the club moves into the neighborhood for positive social change. With FC Utrecht in de Wijk, the club embraces an amateur club in the region. “Together we are looking at how the club can become the heart of the neighborhood. A clubhouse where local residents feel comfortable. A place where young people can develop their talents.” Sports events, workshops and educational programs are also part of this project.Building togetherThe mix of sport, knowledge, expertise and network, according to Van Kranenburg, is a powerful tool to make an impact on society, both inside and outside the soccer field. Through all the initiatives, the club hopes to show other places in the world that you can achieve more together than alone. “We really do it as a team, just like with soccer. Alone you go fast, but together you get further. Of course everyone does it in their own way, but together we contribute to the big picture. Together we build a place where we live long in good health, have fun together and leave the region beautiful for future generations.”

Utrecht in full pursuit of major international conferencesIn the coming years, the Utrecht Congress Alliance public-private partnership will be fully committed to raising Utrecht’s profile as a leading host city and region for major international conferences. The partnership aims to attract conferences aligned with the city and region’s positioning as ‘Utrecht, Heart of Health’. The themes of Life Sciences & Health, New Digital Society and Smart Sustainability will spearhead a multiyear, targeted acquisition strategy.Utrecht Region eager to host more major international conferencesThe targeted acquisition strategy is a breakthrough achievement by the Utrecht Congress Alliance, a partnership that includes the Municipality of Utrecht, the Province of Utrecht, ROM Utrecht Region, HOST (Utrecht hotelier foundation), Utrecht University, Royal Jaarbeurs and Utrecht Marketing with its subdivision Utrecht Convention Bureau. The partners have pledged to work together to strengthen Utrecht Region’s competitive edge in attracting business visitors and major conferences.“Business events and conferences are crucial for Utrecht Region”, says Daniël Kusse, head of Marketing & Communications at Utrecht Marketing. “They boost economic activity, create jobs and are a key component of the knowledge economy.”Kusse adds, “Events and conferences also provide the opportunity to highlight our region’s wider strengths and position Utrecht as the beating heart of a healthy society, in line with ‘Utrecht, Heart of Health’. It’s great to work with an increasing number of partners from various sectors and invest in our shared ambition. For instance, a range of partners from the Utrecht Congress Alliance are attending the IMEX in Frankfurt this week, the leading trade show for the global meetings and events industry.”Utrecht, Heart of HealthRecently named Europe’s most competitive region for the third time, Utrecht Region aims to play a pivotal role in creating a healthy and sustainable society, as reflected in the region’s positioning as ‘Utrecht, Heart of Health’. The targeted, joint acquisition strategy for conferences will further consolidate the region’s profile on a global stage. The key focus is on trade association conferences and industry events like the international WHO European Healthy Cities Network conference, hosted by Utrecht and attended by 350 visitors last November, and the Future Green City World Congress, which is expected to attract more than 4,000 people to the region this September.Global ambitionUtrecht Region has many venues that are eager to accommodate business events and win bids to host international conferences. “The new acquisition strategy ties in seamlessly with our own, which includes a focus on conferences, trade fairs and health and life sciences events”, says Jeroen van Hooff, CEO of Royal Jaarbeurs.Van Hooff continues, “Jaarbeurs received the public award for the best conference venue in the Netherlands for the second year in a row in 2023, thanks to our personalised approach to meeting and event planning and our central location. We’re on a mission to raise Jaarbeurs’ international profile as the premier conference venue in the Netherlands, specialising in health and life sciences. It’s extremely rewarding to work with our Utrecht-based partners to gain greater global recognition for our innovative region.”Since the partnership’s inception, an increasing number of municipalities and partners in Utrecht Region have expressed their desire to help bring business visitors and corporate events to the region.