London isnt known for having a lot of participation in sport. In fact it is well known that many people in London rarely practice physical exercise, let alone play any type of organized sport. This, however, is going to change thanks to the Olympic games. With the Olympics quickly approaching, many programs have been set up to get people more involved in physical activity. One in particular, Sport England Programme, was created by Olympic legend, Sir Steve Redgrave to get volunteers involved in leading others in sport. The goal of the program is to get up to 40,000 people involved in at least 10 hours of sport leadership. Backed by a large sum from the National Lottery Funding, volunteers will be trained and then allowed to help out with other programs in their local communities. The programs initial intentions are to get people more excited and involved with the Olympics; however, there is more: by completing this program, Redgrave hopes to give people the same feeling and love of sport as he has. Also, he hopes the volunteers will carry that same feeling to their local neighborhoods, to begin a rapid spread of sports and physical activity throughout the country.
Its not just London that the Olympics hope to leave a legacy of sport with. Northern Ireland is also getting involved. It has set up programs with Active and Activ8 to promote physical activity in children leading to a better, healthier lifestyle. Some 100,000 children have joined and hopes are that another 100,000 will join in the next five years. Although the 2012 olympics are being held in London, they hope that its influence in Sport will spread through out the entire UK.
There are a few problems that I see keeping athletics from spreading like they hope it too. First, since sport isnt very big in the UK, I dont see how all of the sudden because of one event(granted it is a huge event) can touch so many lives. Maybe Im just playing devil’s advocate here but if its that easy to integrate sport in such a big area, than why hasnt it happened yet. Also, there is alot of talk about the legacy of sport the Olympics will leave after its gone. I think that since there really isnt much history of sport already in the UK it will be hard to keep the momentum going with nothing there to back it up one the Olympics are done. I think what the groups are doing by getting people involved in sport is good and its what they should be doing but as far as the legacy it will leave, that could just be a pipe dream.
Its not just London that the Olympics hope to leave a legacy of sport with. Northern Ireland is also getting involved. It has set up programs with Active and Activ8 to promote physical activity in children leading to a better, healthier lifestyle. Some 100,000 children have joined and hopes are that another 100,000 will join in the next five years. Although the 2012 olympics are being held in London, they hope that its influence in Sport will spread through out the entire UK.
There are a few problems that I see keeping athletics from spreading like they hope it too. First, since sport isnt very big in the UK, I dont see how all of the sudden because of one event(granted it is a huge event) can touch so many lives. Maybe Im just playing devil’s advocate here but if its that easy to integrate sport in such a big area, than why hasnt it happened yet. Also, there is alot of talk about the legacy of sport the Olympics will leave after its gone. I think that since there really isnt much history of sport already in the UK it will be hard to keep the momentum going with nothing there to back it up one the Olympics are done. I think what the groups are doing by getting people involved in sport is good and its what they should be doing but as far as the legacy it will leave, that could just be a pipe dream.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15276029
It will be interesting to see how these exercise groups and volunteer programs that are being set up in preparations for the Olympics in Great Britain will effect English lifestyle. Will the English exercise more? Will adding a workout session into the mix change the daily routine of an average Englishman? Or perhaps the Olympics will be treated simply as a spectators event.
ReplyDeleteIn relation to the focus on physical exercise, do you think that London is similar to the Barcelona games? Have the people in Barcelona or Spain in general become more active since the 1992 games? Or did the original sport hype dwindle after the Olympics?
ReplyDeleteJason, I do not think we will be accurately able to answer your question until the Games actually happen. According a study done by the consulting firm Deloitte, only 48% of London's population exercise more than the recommended amount of 150 minutes per week. And, according to the study, if 70% of the population achieved this goal (which does not seem very difficult- 30 minutes a day), sick days taken at work would decline by over 2 million. Sounds pretty interesting to me, the study pretty much focuses on how much healthier and productive people would be if they exercise more. Although it is pretty common sense, I guess it is pretty relevant to a country that is known for its disinterest in physical activity.
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4855378.stm
ReplyDelete- The Deloitte Article
As far as Barcelona goes, the major accomplishments reaped here following the Games were the lasting effects of its infrastructural improvements. Barcelona constructed Port Olympic, completely redid La Barceloneta, and built the whole Olympic Park and Stadium in an area (Montjuic) that otherwise was pretty barren. That combined with the fact that no nations boycotted the Games (fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991) resulted in a very successful Games. There was like a really great and positive buzz after the Games for Barcelona and by the end of the 90s, it was the fourth largest tourist destination in Europe.
ReplyDeleteAnd to actually answer your question, I am having a tough time finding a statistic online...
http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/1992-olympic-games