Arctic Race of Norway is collaborating with Idretten Skaper Sjanser.
Idretten Skaper Sjanser is an accessible activity offer for people on the side of society, people who have made a vital choice: to get out of drug addiction. The 35 cyclists are now stepping up to be ready for stages of up to 180 km in the Arctic Race of Norway at the beginning of August.
- We think it is great to be an arena for people who are training themselves out of drug addiction, says general manager of the bike race, Knut-Eirik Dybdal.
- Arctic Race is a fantastic opportunity that makes us visible. We are included, and our athletes with their challenges, are considered as members of the sports family, says Morten Nyborg, general manager of Idretten Skaper Sjanser. -
- All people have resources, and through our organized training, drug addicts gain a new identity as athletes. They experience healthy intoxication through mastery and community. They straighten their backs, literally, says Nyborg.
When the start goes for the professional cyclists in Tromsø on 5th of August, the athletes in Idretten Skaper Sjanser are at the front of the track. They start early in the morning, but will ride the same stages as the pros. In four days, the cyclists will cover close to 700 kilometers.
Expert commentator and former professional cyclist Mads Kaggestad will comment on the race for TV 2, who has chosen Idretten Skaper Sjanser as one of its social responsibility projects.
Arctic Race of Norway is more than just a bicycle race, says Mads Kaggestad, and points out that the race since 2015 has taken social responsibility by collaborating with Bufetat to promote the need for more foster homes, and has recently started a collaboration with NAV for to counteract exclusion. The aim of the collaboration is to increase knowledge about the need for offers of organized training together, as part of the training and rehabilitation of drug addicts.
- In Norway, billions of tax money are spent every year on care for addicts, but the fall back rate is sky-high for most measures -
- with the costs this implies for the individual and society at large. In our athlete groups, we create thousands of drug-free hours, and we see that the sports community has ripple effects far beyond better fitness and a stronger body. Unfortunately, far too few have an offer of organized exercise today. We hope that our participation in the Arctic Race will stimulate more clubs to open the door for this group of people, says Nyborg.
