Queen gives sporting Xmas message
By politics.co.uk staff
The Queen’s Christmas message focused on the positive impact participation in sport can have on developing social skills.
This year’s traditional broadcast to Britain and the wider Commonwealth saw the monarchy’s own enthusiasm for sport highlighted, from Prince William and Prince Harry’s interest in polo to Zara Phillips’ eventing.
Sport’s effectiveness as a builder of communities works partly because it helps distract people from their everyday lives, the Queen suggested.
She said: “In the parks of towns and cities, and on village greens up and down the country, countless thousands of people every week give up their time to participate in sport and exercise of all sorts, or simply encourage others to do so.
“These kinds of activities are common throughout the world and play a part in providing a different perspective on life.”
