According to Sport England’s “Active People” survey 2005/06, swimming was the UK’s second most popular recreational activity after “moderately intensive” walking. Around 13% of those aged 16 or over took part in swimming during the period, whilst in Hackney, 20% of people were involved in “moderate intensity sport” and active recreation.

Tom Smith, Disability Sports Officer for Hackney Borough Council’s Olympic and Paralympic Unit, believes the swimming needs of the community are being met. “We’ve recently reopened London Fields Lido, and there’s also the Clissold Leisure Centre, so Hackney actually has its quota of swimming pools. As far as we’re concerned, reopening Haggerston wasn’t financially viable” he said.

………………………………………………………………………………………

A TOP Football Association official believes a Great Britain football team could be the “vehicle” for bringing the game to a new sporting generation.

FA Head of Football Development Kelly Simmons

Kelly Simmons, head of football development at the FA, said: “Having a British team in the Olympics and Paralympics would be a great vehicle from which to promote our game

“We have high level men’s football here every week, with the Premier League, but in terms of the women’s game and disability football, it would be a massive opportunity for us to promote other aspects of the game as well as giving people the chance to see the highest level of that type of football” she said.

Football does not hold a historic reputation as an Olympic sport. Sixteen teams will take part in the Beijing Olympics, but Great Britain will not be one of them.

Having last competed in the Games in 1960, the idea of a combined UK football team has long been touted, yet the prestige of the Champions League and World Cup leaves the Olympics far down the list of priorities for British associations.

A women’s team has yet to compete at an Olympics since female football was added to the Olympic sports list in 1996. Yet, British football could hardly be classified as a struggling sport.

A new strategy for Sport England saw a call from Culture Secretary Andy Burnham for “wealthier” sports in the UK to contribute more to grassroots development. Sport England, along with the Football Association, contributes £15m a year to the Football Foundation, the biggest grassroots football charity in the UK. Yet, the top three teams in the English Premiership, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, have a combined value of nearly £1.5bn, and many of their players regularly earn over £100,000 a week.

When asked if money given to football should be diverted to further the cause of less well off sport, Ms Simmons said: “Football is by far the biggest team participation sport in this country. Whilst its wealthy, it has far more participants, and far more growth potential than any other sport. One of Sport England’s key objectives is to increase the number of people playing sport, and football is a real tool for them”.

Of football’s prospects for London 2012, she said: “I think the fact that the Olympics are in our country, and everyone will be tuning in, I think its vital that football is there. That definitely helps capture young people’s imagination, and helps encourage both boys and girls and players with a disability to take up football.

“We need to be ready, as all the other governing bodies need to be ready to capture the interest in longer term participation”.

James Stibbs, of the Central Council for Physical Recreation, remains reserved. "We very much hope that the Olympics will deliver on a sporting legacy; the potential is certainly there to deliver a really wide range of opportunities to a really wide range of people across the country, and not just in London.

"The potential is certainly there, and its up to the government to really make sure it happens, and to grasp that opportunity, and to give as many people as possible the opportunity to get involved in sport" he said.

.....................................................................................................................................................

Click below to see Tom Smith’s view on grassroots football and a sporting legacy for Hackney post 2012.

Tom is the Disability Sports Officer for Hackney Borough Council, and part of the council’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Unit.