Abstract
Evidence on the possibility of using an Olympic and Paralympic Games to improve the physical activity, sports participation and health of populations in host cities and countries is mixed. On one hand, prior to London 2012, no previous Games had achieved this, but unlike London 2012, no previous Games had set out so explicitly to do so. Drawing on work commissioned from the Department of Health, Sport England and the Greater London Authority and Mayor’s Office, Reed considers three questions in relation to both London and the UK. Firstly, what evidence exists that it is possible to improve physical activity, sport participation and health through an Olympic and Paralympic Games. Secondly, what evidence exists that London 2012 had any impact on physical activity, sport participation and health in London and across the UK. Thirdly, and finally, was London 2012’s strategy and approach to improving physical activity, sport participation and health through the Olympic and Paralympic Games effective, or could more have been done?
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Speech by Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Health, 13 August 2009, ‘Fit for the future – can we build a more active Britain?’, http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Speeches/DH_104324.
References
Chalip, L. (2006) ‘Towards social leverage of sport events’, Journal of Sport & Tourism 11(2): 109–127.
Coe, S. (2005) London 2012: Candidate City to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Presentation to the 117th IOC Session, Singapore, 6 July.
Coe, S. (2008) ‘We won’t try to top Beijing – interview with Mihir Bose’, BBC News, 20 August 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7573227.stm
Crompton J. (2004) ‘Beyond economic impact: an alternative rationale for the public subsidy of major league sports facilities’, Journal of Sport Management 18(1): 40–58.
DCMS [Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (2008) Before, During and After: Making the Most of the London 2012 Games. London: DCMS.
DCMS. (2012) Beyond 2012: The London 2012 Legacy Story. London: DCMS.
DCMS. (2013b) Taking Part: Statistical Releases, https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-sport/series/sat–2, accessed 10 May 2013.
Ecorys. (2012) Formative Evaluation of the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund. Report to the Greater London Authority.
Gibson, O. (2011) ‘Jeremy Hunt admits London 2012 legacy targets will be scrapped’, The Guardian, 29 March 2011.
GLA. (2013) The London Annual Education Report 2013. London: Greater London Authority.
Hansard. (2009) Written Answers for 26 January 2009 (pt 0011). London: HMSO.
Kennedy, E., Pussard, H. and Thronton, A. (2006) ‘Leap for London? Investigating the affective power of the sport spectacle’, World Leisure Journal 48(3): 6–21.
McCartney, G., et al. (2010). ‘The health and socioeconomic impacts of major multi-sport events: a systematic review’, BMJ 340: c2369.
Robertson, H. (2010). London 2012 Mass Participation Sports Legacy Launched. DCMS press release, http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/7565.aspx, accessed 1 December 2011.
Scholes, S. and Mindell, J. (2013) ‘Physical activity in adults’, in R. Craig and J. Mindell (eds.), Health Survey for England 2012. London: Health and Social Care Information Centre.
Sparvero, E. and Chalip, L. (2007) ‘Professional teams as leverageable assets: strategic creation of community value’, Sport Management Review 10(1): 1–30.
Sport England. (2008) Sport England Strategy 2008–2011. London: Sport England.
Sport England. (2009a) Briefing Note: Sport England’s One Million Sports Target, http://www.sportengland.org/idoc.ashx?docid=13d82781-85a9-4d49-a381-bc6e558ad03c&version=-1, accessed 20 October 2009.
Sport England. (2009b) Active People Survey 3, http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/active_people_survey_3.aspx, accessed 10 January 2013.
Sport England. (2010a) Active People 4, http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/active_people_survey_4.aspx, accessed 10 January 2013.
Sport England. (2010b) Places People Play: Delivering A Mass Participation Sporting Legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, http://www.sportengland.org/about_us/places_people_play_–_deliverin.aspx, accessed 10 January 2013.
Sport England. (2011) Active People 5, Quarter 2 Results, http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/aps5/aps5_quarter_2.aspx, accessed 10 January 2013.
Sport England. (2012) Active People 6, http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/active_people_survey_6.aspx, accessed 10 January 2013.
Sport England. (2013) Active People 7, http://www.sportengland.org/research/active_people_survey/active_people_survey_7.aspx, accessed 15 January 2014.
Weed, M. (2010) The Potential of the Demonstration Effect to Grow and Sustain Participation in Sport. Report to Sport England.
Weed, M., Coren, E., Fiore, J., Mansfield, L., Wellard, I., Chatziefstathiou, D. and Dowse, S. (2009) A Systematic Review of the Evidence Base for Developing a Physical Activity and Health Legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. London: Department of Health.
Weed, M., Coren, E., Fiore, J., Mansfield, L., Wellard, I., Chatziefstathiou, D. and Dowse, S. (2012) ‘Developing a physical activity Legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: a policy-led systematic review’, Perspectives in Public Health 132(2): 75–80.
Weed, M., Coren, E., Fiore, J., Mansfield, L., Wellard, I., Chatziefstathiou, D. and Dowse, S. (2015) ‘The Olympic Games and raising sport participation: a systematic review of evidence and an interrogation of policy for a demonstration effect’, European Sport Management Quarterly 15(2): 195–226.
Weed, M., Dowse, S., Brown, M., Foad. A. and Wellard, I. (2013) London Legacy Supra-Evaluation. Report to the Greater London Authority and London Councils.
Weed, M., Mansfield, L. and Dowse, S. (2010) Active Celebration: Using the London 2012 Games to Get the Nation Moving. London: Department of Health.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Weed, M. (2017). Are the Olympics Good for Your Health? Physical Activity, Sports Participation and Health Before, During and After London 2012. In: Cohen, P., Watt, P. (eds) London 2012 and the Post-Olympics City. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48947-0_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48947-0_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-48946-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-48947-0
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)