Post by tmd on Aug 13, 2012 5:16:10 GMT -5
So what sort of Legacy do you want?
The Olympics was fantastic for the UK’s engagement with sport – my 17 year old is looking to join a swimming club after taking a good few years out of sport to concentrate on exams. He is a good swimmer, has a great frame for the sport and who knows could be an Olympic Champion – plenty of people saying he’s too old already, we’ll see. So what about my 11 year old? He wants to be a Triathlete, is he mad I wonder? But there we were 10am on the Sunday of the closing ceremony off down the sea front on the Kent coast, a route roughly 40 times longer than he’d ever cycled. “This is so much better than playing a DS, this is real” he said genuinely engrossed in the activity.
For sure I got back and started mapping out his training program to see him sub 1:45 by Rio but this is not really the sort or legacy we are after is it? A few more highly supportive and already engaged parents giving their kids all the support and assistance they need to try and reach the top of their chosen sport? This is great and for sure I will fulfil my part in this team effort to the best of my ability but I truly hope this is not what is meant by Olympic Legacy.
For me the sort of legacy we need to aim for as a Nation is engagement – getting kids and young people choosing to do something active, anything – Olympic based or not because let’s be honest 0.01% make it to the Elite programs and get properly supported by the Government; I want us to reach a much bigger percentage than that!
So let’s use the interest, drive the enthusiasm brimming on the top of our social conscious right now to change how sports are sporty youngsters and youth are seen. Let’s use the role models of all these very normal, down to earth young men and women to engage with the this and the next generation to normalise sporting endeavour, to remove the geeky, tragic or weird tags that a lot of sports attract – what man would not want the physique, control, power and skill of a top gymnast?
Engagement & Inclusion must come before all – without them all the support, drive and enthusiasm will not give us the return in investment we were hoping for as it just won’t reach a wide enough audience.
The Olympics was fantastic for the UK’s engagement with sport – my 17 year old is looking to join a swimming club after taking a good few years out of sport to concentrate on exams. He is a good swimmer, has a great frame for the sport and who knows could be an Olympic Champion – plenty of people saying he’s too old already, we’ll see. So what about my 11 year old? He wants to be a Triathlete, is he mad I wonder? But there we were 10am on the Sunday of the closing ceremony off down the sea front on the Kent coast, a route roughly 40 times longer than he’d ever cycled. “This is so much better than playing a DS, this is real” he said genuinely engrossed in the activity.
For sure I got back and started mapping out his training program to see him sub 1:45 by Rio but this is not really the sort or legacy we are after is it? A few more highly supportive and already engaged parents giving their kids all the support and assistance they need to try and reach the top of their chosen sport? This is great and for sure I will fulfil my part in this team effort to the best of my ability but I truly hope this is not what is meant by Olympic Legacy.
For me the sort of legacy we need to aim for as a Nation is engagement – getting kids and young people choosing to do something active, anything – Olympic based or not because let’s be honest 0.01% make it to the Elite programs and get properly supported by the Government; I want us to reach a much bigger percentage than that!
So let’s use the interest, drive the enthusiasm brimming on the top of our social conscious right now to change how sports are sporty youngsters and youth are seen. Let’s use the role models of all these very normal, down to earth young men and women to engage with the this and the next generation to normalise sporting endeavour, to remove the geeky, tragic or weird tags that a lot of sports attract – what man would not want the physique, control, power and skill of a top gymnast?
Engagement & Inclusion must come before all – without them all the support, drive and enthusiasm will not give us the return in investment we were hoping for as it just won’t reach a wide enough audience.
