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£30m drive to encourage more children to play sport
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent16 Oct 2008
MILLIONS of children are still not taking part in competitive sport at school, figures will show today.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham will announce a £30million drive to encourage more pupils to compete in new sports leagues and cup competitions.
Despite recent improvements, the latest national survey of school sport is expected to show at least two million children do not play regular competitive games.
The figures come as London hosts the parade for Team GB's Olympic medal-winning heroes. Thousands are expected on the streets to cheer more than 350 Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Mr Burnham will attempt to reverse the long-term decline in competitive sport at school.
Competition has all but died out in many areas because teachers believe a culture of "winners and losers" damages children's self-esteem.
Just three months ago a government study recommended less competitive sport in schools to encourage more pupils to take part in games in the run-up to the London Olympics. Again, the experts argued that competition puts children off.
Reader views (3)
£30 million to do what exactly? In the last 30 years sports facilities have been underfunded to the point of delapidation and then sold off to developers, so where exactly are these sports going to be taught?
- Bob, Cheam, 16/10/2008 12:22
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Why does it always have to be sport? When will they realise that if they gave kids the option of dance classes instead of sport they might get somewhere! I am sure a lot more people - of any age - would prefer to learn to dance than run round a track or chuck balls about. You are never going to make everyone enjoy sport and unless people enjoy the activity they're doing they will not keep it up.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 16/10/2008 10:11
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The fact that children are playing less competitive sports etc is no surprise whatsoever to me. In our area, schools have dumbed down emphasis on PE and playing fields have been sold off to be re-developed as housing!
Lack of facilities / Sports Clubs in our area also has meant that children wanting to participate are limited as to what they can do!
- Sara Ancill, Kent, UK, 16/10/2008 09:48
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