The lost legacy of London 2012 Olympics
The debate on whether the London Olympics will deliver its promised legacy of getting more people to participate in sport and physical activity is picking up speed in Britain. In December 2011, Sport England announced a fall in the number of people aged 16-19 who play sports, making the Government dump its reduced target of getting at least one million people to become more active by 2013.
Financial cuts and decling numbers of participation in sport
The Independent on Sunday reports that since London won the Games the budget for school sports has been cut from £162 million to £35 million. The Government’s community sports legacy – free access to swimming pools for the over-60 and under-16 age groups – was also scrapped, along with Cycling England's funding for better cycle routes in 18 cities.
The report suggests that nearly half of the young people feel they lack opportunities to play sport at school. Half of the boys feel pressured into playing mainstream sports, like football, while more than 60 per cent of the girls said efforts to engage them are not working.
No legacy of mass participation
Michael Calvin of the Independent suggests the Games will not leave a legacy of mass participation, stating, “the Games will not produce leaner, fitter, children. They will not inspire the apathetic, or galvanise the indolent. Obesity rates have tripled over the past 30 years. Participation in 19 sports has declined markedly, over the last two.”
Legacy around the world has been reached
However, according to Coe, the legacy London 2012 set out for has already been reached. He states in an exclusive interview with sportanddev "I am proud to see the vision we set out during our bid in Singapore of helping millions of children and young people around the world come to fruition"
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