ASA WORK SUPPORTS CHANCELLOR'S 2012 FIT WISH
A national campaign launched today by Chancellor Gordon Brown
to "Get Britain Fit for the Olympics" will compliment
the good work being done by the Amateur Swimming Association
(ASA) as part of the successful School Sports Partnerships.
A week after figures revealed in a Department for Education
and Skills School Sport Survey highlighted the impact school
swimming was having on improving the health of children, the
Chancellor has outlined his campaign which also targets youngsters
and sport.
The survey of more than 16,800 schools in School Sport Partnerships
revealed that 80% of pupils now take part in at least two
hours of high quality PE and sport a week and this goes some
way beyond the 75% target set for 2006. The results represent
an increase of 29% since the first survey two years ago.
And swimming was highlighted as being instrumental in helping
the Government to exceed its targets as part of its school
sport strategy. Figures revealed an increase on the previous
year with 84% of partnership schools offering swimming while
37% of the schools are linked to a local swimming club.
Outlining his campaign, the Chancellor called for Britain
to lead the world as one of the fittest and most sporting
of nations by the time the London 2012 Olympics get underway.
In order to achieve this aim, the Chancellor has called for
children to be offered at least four hours of school sport
by 2010 which will extend even further the work being done
by School Sports Partnerships.
Chancellor Brown also called for further after-school sport
and improved links with a range of local sports clubs which
is something the ASA has been working towards, via its Swim21
accredited clubs programme, in conjunction with School Sports
Partnerships.
A competition structure for schools has also been called
for, with the introduction of local leagues while potential
stars will be provided with the extra support to help them
train and develop.
In order to achieve these goals the Chancellor will also
be campaigning for better sports facilities as well as a network
of volunteers within schools and communities.
ASA Chief Executive David Sparkes welcomes the Chancellor's
announcement and is looking forward to working together, as
a sports governing body, towards a healthier nation for 2012
and beyond.
"The ASA has been working hard with schools, the Department
for Education and Skills and other agencies to bring about
further opportunities for children and sport as part of a
healthier lifestyle," said Sparkes
"Together we've made some great improvements, as announced
in last week's report, and can now look forward to taking
this even further by working with the Chancellor and his Get
Britain Fit for the Olympics campaign.
"We're already in the process of helping to achieve
the Chancellor's targets in terms of school sport and a healthier
population, and we also have in place an impressive volunteer
programme to ensure the right people are in place to help
achieve these aims."
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