SPAR to give schools Sports Day Kits to foster competitive athletics at grass roots level
Despite the prospect of a home Olympics next summer, 64% of parents admit that so far the games have failed to fully ignite the imaginations of their children and particularly their interest in athletics.
Whilst tickets for the men’s 100 meters final may have been some of the most coveted tickets for the London games, nearly two thirds of parents (60%) say their children don’t regularly participate in athletics at school or outside school hours, according to a study by SPAR official sponsors of UKA.
Over the last two years the number of children participating in athletics at least once a week has risen by 4.5%* but there is still some way to go to encourage more children into athletics and meet Olympic legacy commitments.
However, as the London Olympics get closer a third of parents still believe that the games will encourage their children to take up athletics (31%).
Being able to socialise with other children their age (66%) and the thrill of winning (30%) are key elements of the sport which parents believe their children will enjoy. The ability to try a range of events which require different skill sets (39%) and seeing their hard work and training pay off (29%) will also, according to parents, attract their children to athletics.
To support Britain’s athletes of the future, SPAR an official sponsor of the UKA are working with European and World Medallist Jenny Meadows to offer schools Sports Day Kits to help them get involved and foster competitive athletics at grass roots level.
800m GB athlete, Jenny Meadows says: “It’s vitally important that we encourage more children to take up athletics, particularly at school. If we can foster an interest in the sport at this young age we will go some way to improving participation.
“I started my athletics career at school and have never looked back. As well as being great fun, athletics has taught me so much over the years from healthy living to discipline – all extremely important skills for children to learn.”
Schools who would like a SPAR Sports Day Kit; which includes participant bibs, finish line tape, posters and well done stickers, should visit their local SPAR retailer or apply online at: www.spar.co.uk. Numbers are limited.
Ends
Research conducted for SPAR by OnePoll amongst a sample of 1,000 parents.
*Sport England, ‘Active People Survey’ – based on the number of 16-19 year olds taking part in athletics (track, field and running) at least once a week.
Notes to Editor
Press Office:
For further information or to arrange an interview with Jenny Meadows please contact:
Nicki Akers/Aimee Jacobs
Seventy Seven PR
0207 492 0977
spar@77pr.co.uk
SPAR (UK) Ltd
The SPAR UK network comprises 2,600 stores across the UK, all of which are independently owned or managed by people who live in the communities they serve. The stores have 50,000 employees and a turnover in excess of £2.6 billion.
Established in the UK in 1957, SPAR has a long heritage of supporting this network of independent retailers. As a symbol group, individual SPAR members remain independent but enjoy access to collective buying and the marketing power of the SPAR brand.
SPAR’s approach means that every SPAR store is tailor-made to suit the needs of its customers wherever it serves them, offering a genuinely local experience for shoppers.
SPAR has been a Principal Partner of European Athletics since 1996 and an Official Sponsor of UK Athletics since 2004. The food retail chain will continue its support of UKA until at least 2013.