A mammoth 18 per cent of 15-year-olds are grossly overweight. At thesame time, Ofsted reports that almost a fifth of primary schools lackeven "adequate" sports facilities. This, coupled with more sedentaryactivities such as watching television and using computers, means 40 percent of children and young people are not achieving the British HealthFederation's recommended levels of physical activity.
Recognising the need to invest in future British athletes, theGovernment has pledged 1m of National Lottery money per year tothe Talent Athlete Scholarship Scheme. The scheme, which has alreadybeen running for a year, contributes to coaching and facility costs foryoung people across the country.
However, it's not just the athletically talented that needbolstering.
This is an opportunity to motivate all children to get involved and geta buzz from being active. And while access to outdoor spaces and sportsvenues might be limited in some areas, this doesn't need to be abarrier.
A unique project in Telford demonstrates this.
Street Sport offers free out-of-school activities in parks and schoolplaying fields. Travelling to residential areas, coaches set up sportsequipment and engage children in a range of sports and games.
Children participating feel it keeps them fit as well as out oftrouble.
Brent council is also hoping to help children get fit by launching apilot project in the autumn that will transform the lifestyles of morethan 1,000 secondary school pupils. Supported by Olympic medalist DaleyThompson, the Move it campaign will encourage young people toparticipate in two hours of extra sports coaching each week.
If successful, the initiative will be rolled out nationally.
The problems of inactivity are at last beginning to be recognised, andin some cases, addressed. The Government wants school children to get aminimum of two hours exercise a week. Local authorities also need toimprove availability of sport opportunities. But the 2012 Olympicsoffers much more than any of this - the inspiration and focus to getchildren involved.
Children and young people rightly took centre stage in winning thebid.
We need to continue and build upon that to create a major change inchildren's attitudes and experience of being active. The impact of sucha move could have dramatic positive outcomes for the nation's health'social engagement and morale.
