School sports programme gives children a healthy start

CHILDREN are being encouraged to get active and live a healthier life under a schools programme developed by the Irish Sports Council.

John Treacy, the council’s chief executive, said introducing children to sports at a young age leads to lifelong participation and results in health benefits.

But, he said, children can be encouraged if they see their parents exercising regularly.

“While busier lifestyles and work and home demands are putting pressure on many people, the half hour a day allocated to gentle exercise will prove a great antidote to stress, while improving general health and well-being,” he said.

Dublin footballer Jason Sherlock and former Republic of Ireland soccer star Niall Quinn joined in the fun at yesterday’s launch of the Buntús sports programme.

It provides training for teachers and supplies sports equipment and teaching aids for schools.

The timing of the programme is appropriate as the Department of Education is set to begin training teachers in a new primary physical education curriculum next September.

The curriculum was introduced in 1999 but has only been introduced in a small number of schools to date because of a shortage of trained teachers.

The course includes a diverse range of activities, from dance to water sports, and encourages skills such as teamwork and decision making in young people.

There has been a strong focus on sport and exercise for school children in recent years, with studies showing that one-in-five Irish children are clinically overweight.

Much of the blame for these statistics has been apportioned to the lack of physical activity among youngsters.

The Buntús initiative has also been supported by the SuperValu supermarket chain, which will donate €2 million to the project over the next four years.

The Government recently came in for criticism for its inability to restore an annual 2.5 million grant which helped the country’s 3,300 primary schools buy important sports equipment.

Schools around the country are being encouraged to promote sporting activities during this, the European Year of Education through Sport (EYES).