Ahead of the Rugby World Cup Final, Labour has called out the Tory government’s shocking failings to help the next generation of sports stars.

More than 7 years on from the London Olympics and Paralympics, staggering official statistics show the effects of government in action over children’s participation of sport

Between 2010 and 2018 the percentage of 11-15-year-olds participating in weekly sport dropped from 88 per cent to 81.9 per cent. For 5-10 year-olds it dropped from 77.8 per cent to 73.9 per cent.

In particularly young girls from BAME communities are less likely to participate in sports with 49 per cent of Black girls are ‘less active’ and 41 per cent of Asian girls are ‘less active’. That compares to 32% of White British girls. Overall, nearly a third of girls are inactive in sport.

Inequalities in sport continue to persist based on parental income. Children from low-income families are far more likely to be inactive (39 per cent) than those from high income families (26 per cent).

In total, 32.9 per cent of children and young people, equivalent to 2.3 million, do less than an average of 30 minutes of activity a day – falling far short of the Tories promise to “build on or Olympic and Paralympic legacy”.

Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Sports Minister, commenting on these revelations:

“The Tories have squandered the Olympic legacy. The fact that half of young BAME girls are not participating in a regular sporting activity should shame this government.

“It takes more than just British sporting success to get young kids into sport. It takes funding and resources, both of which this government have failed to give.

“It’s time for real change. Labour will invest in our schools and give councils the funding they need so every child, regardless of background, can participate in sport.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

In their 2015 manifesto the Tories promised the deliver an Olympics legacy

“We will build on our Olympic and Paralympic legacy”

Tory 2015 Manifesto, p42, https://www.conservatives.com/manifesto2015

Between 2010 and 2018 the percentage of 11-15 participating in weekly sport dropped from 88% to 81.9%. For 5-10 it dropped from 77.8 per cent to 73.9 per cent.

Taking part survey, p2, gov.uk, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736939/Taking_Part_Child_Annual_Report.pdf

32.9 per cent of children and young people, equivalent to 2.3 million, do less than an average of 30 minutes of activity a day.

56.8 per cent of children do an average of less than an hour’s sport every day.

Sport England, p4, December 2018, https://www.sportengland.org/media/13698/active-lives-children-survey-academic-year-17-18.pdf

The figures below show that BAME children are less likely to do a sport. There are over a third more black girls not participating than white girls.

Sport England, p9, December 2018, https://www.sportengland.org/media/13698/active-lives-children-survey-academic-year-17-18.pdf

Children from low income families are far more likely to be inactive (39 per cent) than those from high income families (26 per cent).

Sport England, p7, December 2018, https://www.sportengland.org/media/13698/active-lives-children-survey-academic-year-17-18.pdf