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05 April 2005
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Report highlights sports’ potential to contribute to getting the nation more active.
Sport England this week published research highlighting an increase in the number of lifestyle sports in the past twenty years, as well as a recent surge in participation levels.
The report ‘Lifestyle Sports and National Sport Policy: An Agenda for Research’ summarises available research on lifestyle or so-called ‘extreme’ sports. It shows that while these sports are particularly popular among 16-24 year olds, they are also growing in popularity among older people. The report cites research showing that the percentage of adults participating regularly increased from 2.5% to 5% between 2001 and 2003. Some 12 % of adults want to try lifestyle sports – equivalent to around 5.8 million people.
Sport England provides advice to lifestyle sports on a range of issues such as health and safety, coaching and volunteers – all of which are vital to future growth. The organisation has also supported a number of projects around the country, for example through lottery investments into climbing facilities and skate parks. The report points to ways in which these lifestyle sports may contribute further to the national sports agenda, particularly in terms of the drive to increase participation in sport and physical activity.
Roger Draper, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: “Sport England is working hard to make England a more active and successful sporting nation. It’s clear that lifestyle sports have a huge potential to contribute to this drive and could reap significant rewards for the health of the nation. They are a great way of engaging young people in particular – including many who have dropped out of traditional sport.
"Sport England already supports lifestyle sports in a range of ways and going forward we are keen to build these links further. We are looking at what other support we can provide, for example by integrating lifestyle sports into multi-sport hubs and, through our advocacy work, encouraging local authorities to think creatively about getting people active and including provision for lifestyle sports in their plans.”
‘Lifestyle Sports and National Sport Policy: An Agenda for Research’ also emphasises the important economic contribution made by lifestyle and extreme sports through activity holidays. In 2001 these accounted for between 8 % and 15 % of the domestic holiday market – worth some £300 million to the economy.
You can download a copy of the report here
Lifestyle Sports and National Sports Policy (PDF 302Kb)
For further information:
Journalists please contact Vivien Paulson-Ellis, Communications Manager, on 020 7273 1822 or Vivien.Paulson-Ellis@sportengland.org. For details of the research please see: www.sportengland.org
Notes to editors
Sport England invests Lottery and DCMS funds into sport. Our aim is to encourage people of all ages to start, stay and succeed in sport at every level and make England the most active and successful sporting nation.
Sport England has nine Regional Sports Boards (RSBs), each made up of experts from areas such as business, local government, sport, health and education. The RSBs provide the strategic lead for sport in their regions and distribute investment for grassroots sport.
Sport England has invested more than £2bn of Lottery funds into sport across England and more than £300 million from the Exchequer.
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