UK sport receives Olympic boost
Public participation in sport would receive a boost if London’s Olympic bid succeeds, according to new research from Sport England.
A new survey, released on the day that this year’s Olympic and Paralympic medallists parade through London, claims that all sport governing bodies questioned have seen an upsurge in interest following the Athens Games.
And in its survey of the public, Sport England says that 26 per cent of people have been inspired to play more sport or be more involved in sport in the future, and stresses that this figure would be higher if the 2012 Games came to London.
The Government is hoping that a successful Olympic bid would encourage greater grassroots sports participation and mesh in with their campaigns to promote healthy living, but some academics have questioned whether Olympic bids have increased participation in previous host cities.
London 2012 chairman, Seb Coe, welcomed the research, saying: “This research demonstrates what I believe is a great strength for London’s bid, the UK’s passion for sport. Sport drives so much of what we are as a nation, what we feel, what we talk about, what we care about. Sport matters.”
Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said: “This research confirms what we already believed, that major international sporting events have a significant impact on boosting the public’s positive perceptions about sport. From the success achieved by our athletes at both the 2002 Commonwealth Games and again in Athens, we can clearly see the positive impact through people now taking up sport and others planning to do so in the near future.
“Awareness of the range of sports and facilities available along with the benefits of being active are a key part of getting people engaged.”
The London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, has recently urged all Londoners to express their support for the bid and London’s tubes and bus stops are currently awash with “Back the Bid” posters.
London is required to submit a dossier of answers to detailed operation questions to the IOC by November 15th, then inspectors will visit the city in February, before the final decision is made in July.
