Sport has risen up the political agenda over recent years. Indeed, the three main parties all acknowledged the health and social benefits of sport in their manifestos. But, as you might expect from politicians, there’s not much detail. So, here are a few ideas for the new coalition government to get people healthier, happier and, who knows, wealthier. Or does that sound too much like a politician speaking?
Let farmers host extreme sports. Cotswold District Council recently bounced the idea of more zorbing on a site near Bourton-on-the-Water. They believed it would be blight on the landscape. Local business people and tourist bodies such as the Bourton Visitor Centre believed it would boost the local economy. BBC2’s Countryfile programme picks out extreme sports activities such as zorbing, as a way farmers can diversify to survive in tough times. If the countryside is to flourish councillors need to relax their approach to new activities. Local politicians must wake up to the fact that the type of sports people want are changing, and they either go with it or risk being passed by. No doubt by people in large plastic bubbles.
Adrenalin is the future for tourism. There’s currently a debate whether Jersey should be a so-called adrenalin island. Some local residents are fearful it may ruin the environment and the atmosphere of the island. But is this fundamentally misunderstanding extreme sports and extreme sports enthusiasts? Extreme sports such as kite surfing, bungee jumping, zorbing and paragliding, to name a few, are using the power of the environment for excitement. Not fighting against it. Sure, the nature of tourist destinations such as Jersey may change. But if they are to flourish, is the status quo an option?
Put Extreme Sports on the government agenda. Sport England is the government agency responsible for promoting and developing sport in the UK. Its aim is to have one million people taking part in sport in the UK and children doing more than five hours of sport and PE per week. Yet the range of sports they recognise includes sports such as American Football but not paintball or other extreme sports. Clearly, there are more people participating in paintball than in American Football. Increasing the range of sports supported can openly increase participation in sport.
Put Extreme Sports on the school curriculum. One of Sport England’s aims is to reduce the number of 16-year-olds who drop out of sport and it has a number of designated sports such as netball, athletics, and gymnastics. Of course, the government wants the UK to be competitive in these sports. However, if they want young people to be involved in sport for health and social benefits, then surely it needs to offer school sports which young people want to do. Karting is an example of a sport which is massively popular with young people. Is a sport like go-karting a way of engaging with young people, who otherwise would be lost to sport? No doubt cost will be mentioned, but we all know the cost of young people who are not involved in society and in worthwhile sporting pursuits, which keep them, fit, occupied and part of society.
- Roy Johnson – Schoolboy Karting Enthusiast
Accentuate the positive. The new government may have a lot on its plate, such as cutting the UK deficit, but too often positive, enterprising, UK success stories such as the extreme sports industry, which create jobs, health and activity for thousands of citizens every day, are ignored.
If you want to vote with your feet for an extreme sport, click here.
Great ! Nice post. Thx