Wales has some interesting news in the sports department! According to the latest ‘Sport and Active Lifestyles: State of the Nation Report 2022-23′ released by Sport Wales, there are nearly a million adults in Wales who aren’t taking part in any sport or physical activity. That’s a whopping 40% of adults in Wales (998,000 people) who said they hadn’t participated in sport or physical activity during the previous four weeks. The survey also revealed that participation levels are still below average for women, disabled adults, and those living in material deprivation. However, there’s some good news too – activity levels are generally higher this year than they were last year, with 39% of adults taking part in sport and physical activity three or more times per week.
The survey also found that adults who participate in sport or physical activity three or more times per week reported having better general health, felt less lonely, had higher life satisfaction, and were happier. This shows the positive impact of regular exercise on overall well-being. Sport Wales is working hard to reduce the inequalities in sports participation across Wales and is encouraging other sectors, such as health, to consider how sport and physical activity can support their operations.
Owen Hathway, Sport Wales’ Assistant Director for Insight, Policy and Public Affairs, expressed his concern about the large proportion of the Welsh public who aren’t active. He emphasized the importance of making Welsh sport safe, accessible, inclusive, and affordable to achieve the vision for sport in Wales – that everyone can have a lifetime enjoyment of sport. He also highlighted the profound impact of sport on the overall well-being of the nation and the need to maximize this impact across society.
The survey also revealed that activity levels tend to decrease as people get older. While more than 80% of 16-24 year olds took part in at least one sport or physical activity during the last four weeks, less than 60% of 55-64 year olds did the same. However, there has been a significant increase in activity levels among the 16 to 24 year-old age group compared to last year.
There’s still a noticeable gap between the percentage of women and men who exercise regularly, but the gap has narrowed slightly in the last year. Similarly, there’s a difference in the proportion of adults who participate in sport or physical activity three or more times per week between those who live in the most deprived areas and those who live in the least deprived areas of Wales. However, the participation gap between those in material deprivation and those who are not has narrowed, indicating some progress in this area.
Owen Hathway also highlighted the demand for more sport and physical activity options, with 685,000 adults in Wales expressing their interest in taking part in more activities. Grassroots sports clubs and organizations can contribute to making sport more inclusive for all by applying for funding from Sport Wales through the Be Active Wales Fund, which offers lottery funding to help buy sports equipment, pay for coaching courses, and more.
The National Survey for Wales defines a sport or physical activity as either a Fitness Activity, Sports and Games, or Outdoor Pursuits. During 2022-23, 56% of adults in Wales participated in at least one ‘Fitness Activity’, 16% participated in at least one ‘Sports and Games’, and 6% participated in at least one ‘Outdoor Pursuits’ during the previous four weeks. It’s great to see the efforts being made to encourage more people to get active and enjoy the benefits of regular exercise!
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