Are we doing enough for the Youth of today? We're quick to criticise, moan and tell them off (like throwing snowballs from car park on to passing shoppers where I was yesterday!) but what are we actually doing to help them or inspire them (and I'm not talking X Factor thanks Mr Cowell!)
60% of London schools - where in 171 days we stage the Olympic Games having spent at least 9.3 billion pounds of public money on - have failed to sign up to the new Sainsburys 'School Games' - the Government with cross party support's latest initiative to get youngsters playing more competitive sport. What makes it worse is its the second lowest take up of regions in England at 42%. Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt told me after announcing the 12,000 schools taking part nationally it was a foundation to build on post Games in 2013 and 2014. But Baroness Sue Campbell chairman of the Youth Sport Trust who'll put on the Games for the Gov. admitted the London figures were slightly worrying.
Bizarrely 60% was also the figure in the LBC poll a couple of weeks back about how many Londoners won't see any live Olympic action this summer. So are the Olympics reaching the right people or the select few? People like me always wanted them and always will and I managed to get tickets through the ballot and can see the benefits of staging the world's greatest show. But what about the people who need it? The people who could be inspired to get fit, exercise, learn discipline and team work rather than the attitude of 'me me me'.
In that same LBC poll, the number of young people excited about London 2012 was more than 50% but on average it was nearer 40% with adult population - who is it that has to sign up to the 'School Games'? Yes the teachers. They wouldn't be holding back would they? Surely not inspiring is integral part of being teacher isn't it? At the weekend as I drove up to Norwich for latest canaries win my sister and I were discussing primary school teachers and the first one I remembered was the teacher who picked me for the school football team at Dorridge Juniors in 1986 - so thanks Mr Wiltshire never said it at the time but 25 years on I still remember your enthusiasm and moustache!
Now I'm really not blaming anyone I'm just trying to point out the facts but in age of cut-backs this is Government funded scheme (rare these days) that could make a difference for us socially as well as in a sporting context. Baroness Campbell told me the schools who haven't signed up 'have nothing to lose' so next time you're at your child's school - worth giving it 100% and asking a teacher 'are we taking part in the 'School Games'?
Go Team GB (and sports teachers everywhere!)
John