Therapie & Praxis
World champion at 100 years
Jan Inge Ebbesvik
President, Road Worlds for Seniors
The only global indoor cycling championship for seniors and people with dementia
Road Worlds for Seniors is the only global indoor cycling championship for seniors and people with dementia. Every year, thousands of cyclists from all over the world participate in the race for trophies, personal triumph, friendship and glory.
Imagine becoming a world champion in cycling at the age of 100 years! Road Worlds for Seniors (RWS) makes this possible. In October each year, care homes, activity centers and day care centers turn into a sports arena with cyclists wearing bike hats, buttons, t-shirts and big smiles.
The RWS is free of charge and is designed to encourage physical activity, reminding everybody that no matter how old you are, you can still be an athlete.
Imagine becoming a world champion in cycling at the age of 100 years! Road Worlds for Seniors (RWS) makes this possible. In October each year, care homes, activity centers and day care centers turn into a sports arena with cyclists wearing bike hats, buttons, t-shirts and big smiles.
The RWS is free of charge and is designed to encourage physical activity, reminding everybody that no matter how old you are, you can still be an athlete.
A global movement
RWS allows older people and people with dementia to take part in a global sporting event - even though they might live in a long term care facility. The championship makes the cyclists become a part of a global movement focusing on physical activity and reminiscence for people that are normally not able to part in such initiatives. Participants use a stationary bike, such as the THERA-Trainer, to cycle to videos from the Motiview video library. The motivational tool offers over 2200 videos from all over the world and are used by seniors to reminisce and share stories with those around them as they pedal. The km they cycle are counted and the winners are the cyclists who have covered the longest distance in the competition period.
RWS allows older people and people with dementia to take part in a global sporting event - even though they might live in a long term care facility. The championship makes the cyclists become a part of a global movement focusing on physical activity and reminiscence for people that are normally not able to part in such initiatives. Participants use a stationary bike, such as the THERA-Trainer, to cycle to videos from the Motiview video library. The motivational tool offers over 2200 videos from all over the world and are used by seniors to reminisce and share stories with those around them as they pedal. The km they cycle are counted and the winners are the cyclists who have covered the longest distance in the competition period.
In our championship everyone can participate, whatever their functional level. We focus on abilities- not disabilities. It is important that all participants can take part in the joy this competition brings- both in their local area but also across international borders.
It’s truly inspiring to see seniors from around the world gather and participate in the Road Worlds for Seniors.
Documented health benefits include improved mobility, fewer falls, better weight management and reduction in physical pain.
This is in addition to an improved quality of life, increased confidence and more social interactions, faster rehabilitation and improved mental wellbeing.
This is in addition to an improved quality of life, increased confidence and more social interactions, faster rehabilitation and improved mental wellbeing.
A yearly highlight for seniors
Road Worlds for Seniors was first held in 2017. At that time, Motitech entered into a collaboration with Bergen2017, which was the organizer of the UCI‘s cycling world championships in Bergen, Norway. RWS became part of the public health campaign for the championship and engaged 1100 cyclists from five countries.
Since then the competition has grown and reached the highest number of signed up participants last year with over 5600 seniors from 7 countries. Together they traveled over 180.000 km!
In our championship everyone can participate, whatever their functional level. We focus on abilities- not disabilities. It is important that all participants can take part in the joy this competition brings- both in their local area but also across international borders, says Jan Inge Ebbesvik, President of Road Worlds for Seniors.
Road Worlds for Seniors was first held in 2017. At that time, Motitech entered into a collaboration with Bergen2017, which was the organizer of the UCI‘s cycling world championships in Bergen, Norway. RWS became part of the public health campaign for the championship and engaged 1100 cyclists from five countries.
Since then the competition has grown and reached the highest number of signed up participants last year with over 5600 seniors from 7 countries. Together they traveled over 180.000 km!
In our championship everyone can participate, whatever their functional level. We focus on abilities- not disabilities. It is important that all participants can take part in the joy this competition brings- both in their local area but also across international borders, says Jan Inge Ebbesvik, President of Road Worlds for Seniors.
Crowning the world champions
RWS is a competition where world champions for men women and teams are crowned. Despite high age it should never be denied that seniors have a strong competitive instinct.
The winners are awarded with large trophies and a lot of attention.
But the main focus is that the competition is open for everyone. Every participant will get rewarded for their effort with their own medal and certificate despite the length of distance cycled.
It‘s truly inspiring to see seniors from around the world gather and participate in the Road Worlds for Seniors. Witnessing their dedication to staying active and engaged is a testament to the remarkable impact of sports in bringing people together, says Ebbesvik.
RWS is a competition where world champions for men women and teams are crowned. Despite high age it should never be denied that seniors have a strong competitive instinct.
The winners are awarded with large trophies and a lot of attention.
But the main focus is that the competition is open for everyone. Every participant will get rewarded for their effort with their own medal and certificate despite the length of distance cycled.
It‘s truly inspiring to see seniors from around the world gather and participate in the Road Worlds for Seniors. Witnessing their dedication to staying active and engaged is a testament to the remarkable impact of sports in bringing people together, says Ebbesvik.
“A very famous cyclist once said pain is temporary and memories are forever. Our cyclists have created memories forever. I have been in cycling for over 20 years and what we achieved was the best cycling event I have ever witnessed!”
Zac Hulm, Partnership Manager at Harbison Care in Australia
Therapie & Praxis
THERAPY 2023-III
THERAPY Magazin
Jan Inge Ebbesvik
President, Road Worlds for Seniors
Jan Inge Ebbesvik übernahm die Führung als Präsident der „Road Worlds for Seniors“, als diese 2017 ins Leben gerufen wurden. Seitdem spielt er jedes Jahr eine entscheidende Rolle dabei, sicherzustellen, dass Senioren weltweit einen Ort haben, an dem sie zusammenkommen und wettkämpfen können.
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