Active Celebration: Using the London 2012 Games to Get the Nation Moving
The Department of Health has launched a resource designed to maximise the opportunity that the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games present for establishing a lasting legacy of healthy, active people.
‘Active Celebration’ is an evidence-based step-by-step guide for sports organisers and health promoters on how to use the London 2012 Games as a catalyst for getting more people, more active, more often.
The guide looks at the different reasons people typically take part in community sport events and physical activity programmes, whether to celebrate, volunteer or simply to socialize, and outlines how this information can be used to boost participation. It is hoped ‘Active Celebration’ will become an essential resource to help local providers and event organisers capitalise on the festival spirit that comes with the Olympic & Paralympic Games to develop happier, healthier communities.
It is a resource that is needed. Despite research showing it takes just 150 minutes of moderate activity per week (that is just 30 minutes on 5 days of the week) to stay healthy, 70% of the adult population do less than that and many do nothing at all.
Active Celebration’ is a key resource to help make that goal a reality and to create a lasting legacy of healthier, more active communities. London 2012 presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to change public health in this country. This guide will help make sure it’s not an opportunity missed.
Active Celebration answers several questions:
- How can the Games inspire us to be more active?
- How can we give most support to those with most to gain i.e. the least active?
- What will work best and who needs to be involved?
For commissioners, it offers an evidence-based guide to which schemes are likely to work in which settings, and what outcomes you can expect.
For coordinators, it provides a detailed picture of the possibilities for legacy work so you can see which ones match most closely with your local priorities.
For delivery partners, it’s a practical ‘how to’ guide covering design and implementation, with a host of useful contacts.
For anyone who has a responsibility for legacy work at local, regional or national level, and wherever you are in the country, Active Celebration will stimulate discussion, aid decision making, generate ideas and positively challenge partnerships at all levels to maximise the opportunities before us.
We hope that you find this resource invaluable. We welcome your views, as well as news of any programmes or events for which you use it as a guide.
Demonstration Effect Initiatives
For further information on Active Celebration please contact Rachel Davies E: rachel.davies@harrogate.gov.uk T: 01423 556782