Recession having 'positive effect' on sports activities

JOINT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND CHILDREN:THE RECESSION is having a positive effect on physical activity in Ireland, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.

Chief executive of the Irish Sports Council and former Olympic medal winner John Treacy said overall participation in sports among adults had increased significantly since 2003.

Presenting preliminary findings of a sports council survey to the Joint Committee on Health and Children, Mr Treacy said the gender gap between men and women participating in sport also appeared to be closing.

In a sports council study in 2003, 70 per cent more men participated in sport than women. The gap had dropped to 53 per cent by 2009 and provisional figures for 2011 showed the gap was 29 per cent.

“This is very good news,” he said.

In 2003, there was also a gap in participation between employed and unemployed people with the former 50 per cent more likely to take part. By 2009, this had dropped to 15 per cent and provisional figures for last year showed “there is no gap”. Figures for last year also showed more over-50s were taking part in sport.

Walking continued to be “far and away” the most popular physical activity for Irish adults.

“Recession is actually having a positive effect on physical activity in society,” Mr Treacy said.

He told the committee the phenomenon was not uncommon and had been identified in other countries and the challenge would be to maintain participation. He also said there should be a focus on getting children involved.

Fellow Olympian Senator Eamonn Coghlan outlined his Points for Life programme, which he hopes to pilot in 12 primary schools in September.

The physical fitness programme would measure children’s fitness and improve it through a series of fun exercise activities incorporated into the daily class routine.

Mr Coghlan said as part of the pilot, the schools would be tested against 12 primary schools following the current curriculum. Once the benefits had been proven, the programme could be rolled out nationwide, he said.