Rounders is THE fastest growing sport, Sport England research shows
15 December 2008by Alison Howard
The listing was posted by Rounders England:- Home
Sport England’s investment in Rounders over the past 4 years has paid off as the second Active People survey reveals that Rounders is the sport that has grown the most, proportionate to the figures produced in the first survey in 2006. Weekly participation by people over the age of 16 has increased from 16,500 in 2006 to 25,900 in 2008.
The 5 fastest growing sports were:
Rounders 57%
Gymnastics 52%
Volleyball 48%
Sailing 40%
Rowing 40%
The largest increases in terms of numbers were athletics, cycling and football, but if these are looked at proportionately the increases are 19%, 8% and 6%.
There are half a million more adults playing sport in England than there were in 2006. “It's fantastic that over half a million more people are now taking part in sport since we won the Olympic bid," said Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.
"This shows the record amount of public money invested in community sport in the last decade is delivering results. This is no time to rest on our laurels, though. I want to see another million people regularly playing sport by 2012."
Sutcliffe's wish is Sport England's formal target and a key aspect in the government's ambitions for a positive, country-wide legacy to the London Olympics.
It is with this in mind that Sport England will announce on December 16th its four-year spending plans: £480m of lottery money for 46 sports to boost participation, cut drop-off rates and improve talent development.
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The results show we are heading in the right direction but also highlight some of the challenges we face - such as tackling the gender gap - in the run-up to London 2012
Jennie Price
Sport England chief executive |
After a lengthy consultation process, the national governing bodies of these sports, which range from athletics to angling, submitted their applications in October.
Governing bodies, supported by Sport England, are succeeding in creating quality opportunities for people across the country," said CCPR boss Brigid Simmonds.
"With the right support, that opportunity was always there and the new focus at Sport England has helped governing bodies deliver."