When it comes to sport, it really is the taking part that counts

KATIE TAYLOR has inspired the nation with her outstanding performances at the Olympic Games, for which we are grateful.

But it would be a surprise, albeit pleasant, if her achievements lead to a surge of female participation in sport, most especially boxing. The evidence of the past, unfortunately, is that Olympic success does not lead to a surge in participation by others in the absence of suitable facilities and encouragement. We have a tendency to admire but not to try to emulate.

Sonia O’Sullivan’s brilliance for near a decade — and the high profile of her running achievements, culminating in a World Championship victory and a silver Olympic medal 12 years ago — did not result in a surge in the numbers of girls taking up track athletics. Four years prior to that Olympic achievement, Michelle Smith’s brilliance in Olympic swimming at Atlanta did not persuade a generation of girls to head for the pool to learn to be like her (and it was nothing to do with her subsequent disgrace and four year ban for tampering with a drug test).

Taylor and O’Sullivan in particular are brilliant role models for any young child or teenager (female or male), or indeed for any adult. They have achieved excellence because of their dedication to make the most out of their abilities, something that has required an enormous amount of hard physical work. Both have displayed similarly admirable degrees of mental strength.

But how many children will want to emulate them and how many parents will encourage and support those children to put in the long hours required? And even if they do, what facilities will be made available to them, especially as the State cuts its financial support to sport year after year? If Katie Taylor had to train in a gym without a female toilet, what chance is there for others?

Very few girls, of course, would go on to become adults who compete at an Olympic Games, even if there was to be a mass take up of boxing or other sports after Taylor’s heroics this week. But that is not the point. Many medical studies show that anybody’s physical and mental health is improved by regular exercise, which usually comes from participation in sports, either at competitive or friendly levels, assisted by regular training. The benefits are obvious in helping to combat obesity and the illnesses that are more likely to arise from that, not just to the individuals, but to the State which has a lower future health bill as a result. And there are also the mood issues: physical training improves it, even if it causes physical tiredness.

All of the above may seem like statements of the obvious but it is taking time for such benefits of sporting behaviour to become engrained in day-to-day Irish lifestyles.

Studies and surveys on participation rates in sports in Ireland have been done regularly in recent years. Some of the findings have been relatively good. For example, the number of people engaging in some form of personal exercise has increased sharply since 2009. This is being attributed partly to people having more time because of the recession, albeit with less money.

Different reports give you different estimates for the numbers in population who remain sedentary — who take a level of recreational activity of fewer than 20 minutes a week — ranging from one-sixth to one-third of the population. One study has claimed that the numbers of people engaging in sport, whether personal exercise or team games, increased by more than one-third from 34% in 2009 to 46% of the population last year, although the latter figure may seem optimistic. The increase over the last decade is reckoned to have been even more significant and the gender gap between men and women participating in sport also seems to be closing. In a Sports Council study in 2003, 70% more men participated in sport than women. The gap had dropped to 53% by 2009 and provisional figures for 2011 showed the gap was 29%.

These reports have also found a strong correlation between sports participation and socio-economic status. One found that those with a monthly household income of less than €2,500 were significantly more likely to be sedentary than those on a monthly income of €5,500 or higher. Higher income earners were also less likely to participate in team sports.

It is true, unfortunately, that many sports, other than running (and even then you have to spend on a good pair of running shoes to avoid injury) can be very expensive to enjoy, especially for a family where there are a number of children. There is also the cost of travel to venues. We are very fortunate in this country that we have enjoyed the far sighted provision of facilities by the likes of the GAA in particular, and the other majorly supported sports, and that most of these clubs are run by selfless volunteers, but that is not the case for many other sports, especially those were the capital costs for investment are high.

And yet if a parent can encourage any child to get involved in sport, and or can participate themselves, the return on investment can be huge. The cost of a session in the gym may be money more productively and enjoyable spent than on a pint or a bottle of wine or on hiring a DVD. Surely any parent should want to have a child actively involved in sport, rather than hanging about claiming to be bored and turning to destructive behaviour.

International studies suggest that children need at least 60 minutes’ exercise a day. However, on average primary school pupils get just 46 minutes of PE teaching weekly (in the weeks they are at school).The recommended time of one hour’s physical education (PE) a week in our primary schools is the lowest in Europe, yet an Irish Sports Council study in 2010 found that only a third of pupils are getting even that much. There are issues too in relation to the suitability of the PE instruction given and as to whether schools pay it lip service as part of the regular school curriculum.

IN FAIRNESS to the Irish Sports Council, it has tried to provide the people. Its Buntús Primary Schools Initiative has provided teachers with supports such as training, resource cards and equipment, all with the idea of introducing young people to sport. The idea is that habits formed in school years can have a significant impact on children’s attitude to health and fitness for the rest of their lives.

Coming in September former Olympian, and now Fine Gael senator, Eamon Coghlan is going to pilot his Points for Life programme in 12 schools, encouraging a physical fitness programme that is designed to measure children’s fitness and improve it through a series of fun exercise activities incorporated into the daily class routine.

Unfortunately, it is happening against a background of massive cuts to the sports budget. From an operational high of €57m in 2008, the ISC allocation is set to fall below €40m for the first time in a decade by 2014. Elite athlete programmes to give us the likes of Katie Taylor are being decimated, and those measures to help children from the start are being slashed too.

If ever there is a case of penny wise, pound foolish then this could be it. Remember it as the politicians celebrate Katie Taylor as a role model in these days. There has been billions to waste on the banks but a pittance to support the necessity of a viable participative sporting model for the good of the general health and mood of the nation.

* The Last Word with Matt Cooper is broadcast on 100-102 Today FM, Monday to Friday, 4.30pm to 7pm.