The (social) return of offering attractive sport

Fitting out outdoor spaces well is crucial to getting people to exercise and creating a healthy living environment. People want to decide for themselves when, where and with whom they exercise. This is linked to individualisation and flexibilisation, trends that will continue. Technological developments, such as apps, give athletes feedback on their performance and fitness. Exercising in parks has become a fixed part of society; bootcamp, CrossFit and running groups are good examples.

Sport and exercise also have a social return. This is called social return on investment (SROI): a method that measures whether spending serves a social goal without directly leading to financial profit. The SROI of sport and exercise in the Netherlands is estimated at 1 to 2.51. The measured social returns are therefore 2.51 times higher than all investments made to promote sport and exercise. When someone exercises regularly, this can deliver up to €75,000 in social value per person over the rest of their life, in health, social and employment benefits.

We like to respond to the need for attractive ways to exercise in public spaces. It is important to consider all target groups: options for young and old, trained or untrained. The number of people exercising alone or in self-organised groups in public spaces will continue to grow. We like to lead these trends, for example with the SmartGoals Urban SkillCourt.

SmartGoals Urban SkillCourt

The SkillCourt is an interactive, multifunctional court with a permanent set-up of SmartGoals. What makes it unique is the combination of exercise and gaming (gamification). Users log in via an app, take various tests and track their results. The SkillCourt can be fully customised and extended with other equipment, such as football goals, the SportBox and outdoor fitness equipment. Ideal for public spaces and a broad target group.

Return on investment

The return on investment of sports equipment bought by municipalities and clubs is hardly researched yet. With a SmartGoals Urban SkillCourt at a sports park, it is possible to recoup part or even all of the investment. Besides clubs, the court can be used during off-peak hours by local residents, bootcamp groups, football schools and others.

The Urban SkillCourt records use and activity (GDPR-compliant), giving the municipality useful data. This makes it easier to develop a sound sports policy for residential areas, and it also creates opportunities to rent out the SkillCourt.