A poll released today by BBC Radio 5 live reveals that nearly one in five members of the British public have been inspired to take part in sport as a result of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The poll carried out by ComRes provides a picture of the impact that the Games have had on life in Britain six months on from the Games – and gives an insight into what sporting legacy, if any, has been generated so far.
The poll also reveals that:
- London 2012 has been less inspiring to certain demographic groups, with a smaller proportion of women (16%) and those aged over 55 (10%) being inspired to take part in more sport.
- More than half of the those polled (56%) feel that there is too much coverage of football on TV, radio and in newspapers and not enough of other sports.
- Around a third (35%) agree that they have noticed an increase in coverage of non-football sports since the London 2012 Olympic Games, but more than half (53%) disagreed with this statement.
Discussing the poll’s results earlier today on Radio 5 live were guests including the chair of LOCOG and of the British Olympic Association, Lord Sebastian Coe and the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s chief executive Tim Lamb.
Speaking on air about the poll Lord Coe said:
“It (the poll) chimes in large part with some of the research we ourselves have done at the (London 2012) organising committee, that 70 per cent of people say that their children are now significantly more positive about sport.
“It (the poll) didn’t talk to those young people who actually I know are making a bee-line for their local clubs.
“There are other challenges because we are beginning to get evidence back that there is quite a long waiting list in some of those clubs, but this is a good start.”
On the issue of coverage of minority sport, Lord Coe commented:
“We can’t go from feast to famine and pick up interest six weeks before an event….we need to use more creative ways of communicating with younger people. ”
Tim Lamb said:
“I’m a glass half full, or should I say, a glass fifth full and I’m very encouraged by this. I think the key thing – particularly from the point of view of clubs and volunteers and people involved with clubs that we speak to is – to ensure that when people are queuing round the corner looking to get access to clubs and enjoy the facilities that are on offer, those clubs are able to accommodate the extra numbers.
“A key issue for clubs is access to decent and cost-effective facilities. Something like two thirds of clubs have to hire facilities, they don’t own their own, and the cost of hiring facilities, particularly with the local authority budget cuts and so on, has gone up exponentially.”
The ComRes poll follows on from the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Olympic legacy survey answered by volunteers within community sports clubs back in October.
It revealed that two in five clubs (42%) had seen an increase in the number of people joining their club following the Games, but that a quarter (26%) of those clubs were struggling to meet the demand.
For more information about the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s legacy survey findings, contact the Alliance's research officer Syann Cox on 020 7976 3922.
For press enquiries, contact the Alliance's communications officer, Libby Jellie on 020 7976 3933.
