The Department of Health has launched a new resource designed to maximise the opportunity that the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games present for establishing a lasting legacy of healthy, active people.
Working in partnership with researchers at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, ‘Active Celebration’ is an evidence-based step-by-step guide for sports organisers and health promoters on how to use the London 2012 Games as a catalyst for getting more people, more active, more often.
Professor Mike Weed, who led the research behind ‘Active Celebration’ on behalf of the University’s Centre for Sport, Physical Education and Activity Research (SPEAR), said: “Our work analysed evidence from the leading research across the globe on the legacies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the impacts of major sports events and sports franchises, to examine the potential for direct legacy impact for health.
“It revealed that London 2012 presents a very real opportunity to inspire change and boost local, regional and national participation in physical activity. Our development of this research into an evidence-based, user-friendly guide for those promoting healthy lifestyles will help ensure that this valuable and important opportunity to encourage people to become more active will not be missed.”
The guide looks at the different reasons people typically take part in community sport events and physical activity programmes, whether to celebrate, volunteer or simply to socialize, and outlines how this information can be used to boost participation. It is hoped ‘Active Celebration’ will become an essential resource to help local providers and event organisers capitalise on the festival spirit that comes with the Olympic & Paralympic Games to develop happier, healthier communities.
It is a resource that is needed. Despite research showing it takes just 150 minutes of moderate activity per week (that is just 30 minutes on 5 days of the week) to stay healthy, 70% of the adult population do less than that and many do nothing at all.
Anne Milton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, commented: “Getting more people taking part in sport and all forms of physical activity is a Government priority. Active Celebration’ is a key resource to help make that goal a reality and to create a lasting legacy of healthier, more active communities. London 2012 presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to change public health in this country. This guide will help make sure it’s not an opportunity missed.”
“We would like every commissioner and organiser of physical activity to pick up Active Celebration and use it as a checklist for what should be done. Mostly, a few tweaks will turn a great idea into an evidence-based one. Active Celebration shows you how.”
Such is the resource’s potential impact on the UK’s health and wellbeing that Active Celebration has been formally granted the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme.
The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now and continues long after. Programmes such as Active Celebration will help more people in the UK make positive life changes.”
The guide contains case studies which illustrate how London 2012 is already being utilised effectively to boost positive activity. One organisation highlighted is national youth sport development charity StreetGames.
StreetGames holds the Inspire Mark for its Legacy Leaders programme which helps coaches, volunteers and existing participants use the festival sprit and inspirational power of The Games to encourage more young people from disadvantaged communities to take part in sport. Over 1million attendances have already been generated by the charity.
It is believed ‘Active Celebration’ can help inspire lasting improvements to health and wellbeing in a similar way across the UK.
Paul Jarvis from the Department of Health who commissioned the work said: “This work will help us to secure a true and lasting health and physical activity legacy from the London 2012 Games. It takes the best available international evidence and sets out exactly what we need to do. For one thing, we can get more people doing sport. But even better than that, by making changes to the environment and providing the right incentives, we can get everyone more active and staying that way.”
‘Active Celebration’, and the underpinning research, is available for download from http://www.wellbeingsoutheast.org.uk/downloads/ActiveCelebration/.
For further information regarding Active Celebration, please contact Rachel Davies, North Yorkshire Sport on 01423 556782.