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Sally Gunnell Reveals How The Olympics Have Inspired Britons To Take Up Sport

It’s official: the constant pictures of perfectly formed Olympic athletes infiltrating our papers every day have moved us to get active ourselves.
Lifestyle - 16 March 2012   Download IconContent available for download:  
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With just 130 days to go to until the games, research from Sport England reveals that people have embraced the Olympic spirit and have been inspired to take up running since London won the bid. Almost two million people are now running every week, up by almost 20% in the last four years.

In line with expectations, it appears the images of perfectly formed athletes infiltrating our magazines, newspapers and television screens, have moved us to become even more athletic ourselves. However to ensure this spike in running continues to increase, Run England has partnered with Royal Caribbean International on a new initiative in order to encourage people to get exercising at a grassroots level, launched in London last month.

Working in partnership with Royal Caribbean International, new running groups will be teaming up and heading out to pound the pavements. They’re encouraging everyone from seasoned athletes, to weekend warriors and total beginners, to get motivated during what is such a high profile time for British health and fitness – creating a lasting legacy beyond this year’s Olympic Games.

. Introduction:

With the physiques of perfectly formed Olympic athletes infiltrating the pages of our magazines and television screens, have we been inspired as a nation to get ourselves moving? Research shows that the answer for over half a million runners is a resounding ‘yes,’ with 20% more people running now than they were 4 years ago.

To make sure our enthusiasm keeps on growing, Run England have teamed up with cruise line Royal Caribbean International to motivate the nation and encourage more people of any fitness level to get going, by introducing a new grassroots initiative.

So why is now a better time to start running than ever?

Joining us to discuss this further is Olympic Gold Medallist, Sally Gunnell and Geoff Wightman, Head of Run Britain, who are both supporting the running group initiative.