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Roger Black Comments - Will the Olympics Inspire the Nation to Prioritise Personal Health?

The competition to get hold of an Olympic ticket has been fierce, showing the nations interest in watching sporting events next year.
Health, Leisure, Lifestyle - 26 July 2011   Download IconContent available for download:  
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A new report has found that a massive 22 million time-poor Brits are struggling to make time in their lives to look after their health for the second year in a row. It revealed 35% of adults are concerned about neglecting their health, but worryingly, 37% said that they just don’t have the time to exercise - more than half of who are aged between 20 and 29 (58%).

Nearly half of Brits (45%) rate the amount of time they spend keeping fit as below ideal and nearly a quarter admit they would only pay attention to their health if they become seriously ill. A quarter of us will always put our family’s health needs over our own, and over a fifth (21%) said money was too tight to afford a gym membership.

The report raises questions about Britain’s relationship with sport and exercise, as the one year countdown to the Olympics kicks off. British spectators are expected to make up 80-90% of total attendance, with 30 million people living within a day trip of London. Interest in the Olympics has been rife with 60% of ticket applications submitted within the first two hours, selling out 10 sports in this time.

. Introduction:

It's exactly one year until the Olympics takes London by storm, yet a new report has revealed more than a third of us are worried about neglecting our health and don't have the time to exercise. The London Olympics and Paralympic games aim to get people involved in sport. But with just one year to go, it seems we are still facing an uphill struggle to motivate people into making time for their health.

Joining us to discuss this further is Roger Black MBE, a 14 year strong athletic champion.

. Suggested Questions:

What does the research reveal about attitudes towards exercise and sport in our area?

How much time on average do people spend exercising?

What are the reasons people aren’t prioritising their health?

Why are people taking interest in the Olympics as spectators but not prioritising their own fitness?

How can we inspire people to get more involved in sport?

Where can our listeners find more information?