BROCKVILLE – The concept of “Sport for All” has been in the United Kingdom and other European countries for more than 40 years, but never actively promoted in Canada. Thousand Islands Concrete is the first company in Canada to make a strategic decision to invest in local programs that embrace the concept of “Sport for All”. In 2008, Thousand Islands Concrete has sponsored the:
- Ontario Masters East Regional Track and Field Championships (for adults) on May 10
- Brockville Sports (free) wakeboard club for youth in July and August
- Sportability Fun Zone for 2- to 9-year-olds at the Brockville Beachfest on August 31
- Thousand Islands Concrete is also sponsoring the 1000 Islands Half-Marathon and 5k, organized by the Brockville Road Runners Club, on Saturday September 6.
“Brockville is a wonderful city”, states Bob Castle, owner of Thousand Islands Concrete, “but to make it a great place for young families and retirees, there needs to be more opportunities for everyone to participate in sport. The Brockville Sports wakeboard club is an example of what needs to happen. Many of the downtown kids who participated in the program this summer had never been involved in sport until they joined the wakeboard club, and several of them have already been in trouble with the police.”
Organized sport can help reduce rising rates in youth crime and obesity in Canada:
- There was a 3% increase in crimes committed by 12 to 17-year-olds between 2005 and 2006
- Criminal involvement usually starts before the age of 15, with first-time offences declining markedly once youth reach 20 years of age
- Young people who become involved in criminal activities before the age of 14 tend to be the most persistent offenders, with long criminal records
- Physical inactivity is a major contributing factor to rising obesity rates among all ages
- Only 9% of 5 to 19-year-olds are physically active enough to gain a health benefit
- Almost two-thirds of adults (63%) are overweight or obese
- The annual economic burden of physical inactivity is estimated at $5.3 billion
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed a joint statement for “Sport for All” based on the common goal of promoting health through sport and physical exercise. Both the IOC and WHO recognize that sport and physical exercise has a positive effect on the physical, mental and social well being of individuals. They also acknowledged that adequate instruction and quality coaching is necessary in order to avoid any negative effects that could result from participating in sport and physical exercise.
The term “Sport for All” was established by the Council of Europe in 1966. The concept includes all forms of recreational and competitive physical activity. In 1975, the Council of Europe approved the following “Sport for All” charter:
- Article I - Every individual shall have the right to participate in sport;
- Article II - Sport shall be encouraged as an important factor in human development and appropriate support shall be made available out of public funds;
- Article III - Sport, being an aspect of socio-cultural development, shall be related at local, regional and national levels to other areas of policy-making and planning such as education, health, social service, town and country planning, conservation, the arts and leisure services;
- Article IV - Each government shall foster permanent and effective co-operation between public authorities and voluntary organizations and shall encourage the establishment of national machinery for the development and coordination of “Sport for All”;
- Article V - Methods shall be sought to safeguard sport and sportsmen from exploitation for political, commercial or financial gain, and from practices that are abusive and debasing, including the unfair use of drugs;
- Article VI - Since the scale of participation is dependent, among other things, on the extent, the variety and the accessibility of facilities, the overall planning of facilities shall be accepted as a matter of public authorities, shall take account of local, national and regional requirements, and shall incorporate measures designed to ensure full use of both new and existing facilities;
- Article VII - Measures, including legislation where appropriate, shall be introduced to ensure access to open country and water for the purpose of recreation;
- Article VIII - In any programme of sports development, the need for qualified personnel at all levels of administration and technical management, leadership and coaching shall be recognised.
Brockville Sports is a not-for-profit multi-sport organization that provides opportunities for all Brockville residents and visitors to participate in sport.
From: Elizabeth Primrose
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