Give them a place to play

ELECTION TIME is just around the corner and perhaps that means that the time is right for sporting bodies to put a little pressure on the Government and the opposition parties to outline their programmes for sport.

A united lobby of sports bodies could play a very significant role in the putting together of the next government.

Politicians are quick to jump on the bandwagon of whatever sport happens to be in the public eye at the time. They will "glad hand" any sporting hero or team when it suits them and all political parties will willingly approach sporting figures to run for election knowing that they are ready made vote catchers. After all, many politicians have cut their own political teeth in the sporting arena.

There are several well known sports people in the Dail right now and nobody will be surprised if there are more after the next election.

The problem is that governments of every hue are very good at making noises about the importance of sport in the life of the nation, but they are rather less forthcoming when it comes to signing the cheques.

Sadly, the National Lottery has failed to live up to the early promises which were made when it was launched.

The subject of crime among young people is a very live issue at the moment and this is brought home in poem which came my way recently. It is quoted in a report of the 1993 congress of the GAA which was held in Thurles.

The writer of the report, whose name is not available, refers to the poem written by Denis A McCarthy from Carrick on Suir who was living in the United States at the time and who was a frequent contributor to newspapers and magazines there and in Ireland.

The poem is called: Give them a place to play and it reads:

Plenty of room for dives and dens - glitter and glare and sin,

Plenty of room for prison pens (gather the criminals in).

Plenty of room for jails and courts (willing enough to pay)

But never a place for a lad to race - no never a place to play.

Give them a chance for inno-

cent sport, give them a chance for fun.

Better a playground plot than a court and a jail when the harm is done.

Give them a chance - if you stint them now, tomor-

row you'll have to pay

A larger bill for a darker ill, so give them a place to play!

It is not exactly vintage Seamus Heaney, but it makes a valid point. If youthful exuberance is not given space within recognised boundaries, it will, almost certainly, find expression in anti social behaviour.

The various sporting bodies have done wonderful work over the years, mainly on a voluntary basis, to provide their members; with facilities as well as coaching, organisation and so on.

Despite the expanding commercialisation of sport, there remain hundreds of dedicated people who look after youth teams on a voluntary basis. The teaching profession has a proud record in this regard, but people from all walks of life contribute in many ways, including the provision of transport and refreshments and general supervision.

That being the case, it is tempting for governments to take such activities for granted but the fact remains that all governments are morally responsible for the welfare of their citizens, particularly young people.

In fairness, it must be said that many public bodies do their best to provide facilities for sports of various kinds, however, the fact remains that not enough emphasis is put on infrastructare for sport.

Nobody can expect a government to start providing referees, or making tea and sandwiches, but they should provide basic facilities, with the sporting bodies taking responsibility for the actual running of events.

It has to be accepted that a government has a duty to promote a healthy mind in a healthy body and politicians will soon be on the doorsteps - promising the sun, moon and stars.

The sporting bodies can put pressure on politicians to give support to sport. They can get them to give a commitment to put flesh on the bones of the recent report on sporting policy from Minister for Sport Ber

So far, we can hear the bees but we haven't yet tasted the honey. A concerted effort by our sporting bodies and, indeed, by citizens who are being asked for their votes, could play a useful part in getting whatever government we end up with, to accept their responsibilities to provide finance for more and better sporting facility.

If they are serious about the fight against crime, they should the importance of giving youth a place to play.