TODAY The Sun urges schools to follow the inspiration of our golden Team GB — by turning Britain’s pupils into Team PE.
Sun ... campaign
We want kids to be given a physical education lesson each day to boost fitness, encourage healthy competition and inspire future Olympic heroes.
Stars such as Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Bradley Wiggins have proved Britain can excel on the world stage.
But there are concerns that more must be done for generations to come.
The Sun proposes a daily timetable slot — an idea backed by a squad of top sporting names.
LORD MOYNIHAN, chairman of the British Olympic Association, called for a shake-up of school sports.
He said a “step change” was needed so the legacy of London 2012 can flourish.
Lord Moynihan ... backs shake-up
He insisted: “We can translate inspiration into participation. If we can’t do something now, we never will.”
Culture Secretary JEREMY HUNT added: “School sports provision is patchy in places. We need to make sure the very best examples are spread throughout the country.
“This is absolutely going to be a focus and one of the things we want to take away from these Games.”
Shadow Olympics Minister TESSA JOWELL said: “Sport is the best medicine for tackling childhood obesity, improving behaviour and building self-esteem. It motivates kids to do their best both on the pitch and in the classroom. More sport is a win-win for pupils, teachers and parents alike.”
Kids are captivated by the Games and a survey revealed yesterday that physically fitter pupils do better, with healthy hearts and lungs improving marks in reading and maths.
Here, a host of sports personalities explain why they back daily PE for kids.
Mark Cavendish
No1 Tour de France sprinter
IT’S a no-brainer really — a session of physical activity a day would benefit kids no end. It’s a great idea.
We just have to be careful to make sure we aren’t ramming specific sports down their throats because that could be counter-productive.
It could be just playing something like British Bulldog — a fun game which teaches kids to be nimble on their feet and gets the heart and lungs pumping.
If schoolchildren are allowed to choose how they spend their active time I guarantee you’ll see a far more healthy generation of kids who will look forward to that active time a day.
'No-brainer' ... Mark Cavendish
When I was at school there was too little time dedicated to PE and in many ways it was too rigid. I didn’t like playing cricket, and I couldn’t understand why I had to play it when I would have loved to be doing another sport.
And when I started getting good at cycling I asked if I could ride my bike during PE, but I was told I couldn’t. I couldn’t understand why not, it was something I was blossoming in — it should have been nurtured.
You don’t have to be a gifted athlete or super-fit to enjoy sports, you just need to find the right one.
Aside from the physical benefits, sports are a great socialising force.
You learn about yourself and other people — the good and bad points in both.
You’re exposed to the thrill of competition and the sense of achievement when you succeed or excel. And you learn that things don’t always go your way.
For those who lack confidence in the academic classroom, it’s a great starting point for building crucial self-esteem.
Sports can be the difference between shrinking away at the back of the class — or having the confidence to put your hand up and ask the teacher a question.
Holly Lam-Moores
Team GB handball player
I ACTUALLY discovered handball at school — and now I’ve competed in an Olympic Games on home soil. I had no idea what handball was, we just had it for PE one day and it was really good fun, so I ended up joining a local club.
I think it’s essential for kids to have a sports lesson a day. Everyone wants to keep fit and healthy, but we have this culture of thinking of exercise being a chore.
'Fun' ... Holly Lam-Moores
Sports like handball are fun, easy, cheap and social. If we can encourage children to do more sport at school, it will help them realise playing sport is fun, not boring.
I remember girls in my school used to be self-conscious and feel peer pressure not to do PE, so would forget their kit.
That’s a real shame, it’s a great way of letting off some steam and getting out of the classroom.
Daley Thompson
Won decathlon gold twice
PEOPLE from my age group, 35 and up, learned all about sport at school. Nowadays kids do much less sport at school.
The Government is starting to make it compulsory to have three hours of sport a week. But that’s nowhere near enough. The average is just over an hour a week.
Headmasters and mistresses are fairly hard-worked with what is in the curriculum already. Perhaps they’re not sure if there are enough hours in the day. But I don’t know why schools don’t start half an hour early.
'Nowhere near enough' ... Daley Thompson
In terms of what it gives you, I think that exercise is as important as learning maths, English and science. The health of the nation is important and there’s no better place to start than at school.
In general, there is a lot less physical activity, a lot of things chipping away at it. We watch a lot more football on telly than playing it. We used to watch Match of the Day and we’d be down the park next morning trying to do what we saw.
There needs to be a change in terms of how sport is viewed as a key part of children’s lives.
I’m not talking necessarily about competitive sport — but about getting out and doing exercise.
See Daley take part in the Daz-athlon at facebook.com/dazsoapclub. Daz Soap Club is the place for people who love all things soap!
Nicola Minichiello
Former world champion bobsleigher
SPORT is crucial to a child’s development — the most important part of the curriculum.
Maths, science and English are great for the brain, but PE is about life skills — team-work, dedication and motivation.
Life skills ... Nicola Minichiello
But in primary schools PE is the first thing dropped from the curriculum if the weather is bad, and so on.
So you lose kids who have an interest. Maybe our kids, from daily session of sport, can become Olympic champions.
Or maybe they’ll just have a more enriched and healthy life.
Greg Rutherford
Long jump Olympic gold
TAKING part in sports is absolutely essential in school — how else can we encourage a healthy lifestyle for children?
It gave me a vital opportunity to realise my talent.
'Vital opportunity' ... Greg Rutherford
And, without regular sport, there could be thousands of kids who might be slipping through the net.
It’s social, it’s healthy, it’s fun — I think The Sun’s campaign is critical for future generations.
Dr Victor Thompson
Clinical sports psychologist
PHYSICAL activity wakes children up, and that increases their concentration in academic lessons.
'Increased concentration' ... Dr Victor Thompson
It also builds confidence and introduces a competitive element which teaches children to push themselves.
By doing exercise every day, it becomes habitual.
Ian Wright
England and Arsenal legend
SELLING off playing fields was a mistake. My school did everything – basketball, cricket, swimming – and we played competitively against other schools, which helped.
'Distractions' ... Ian Wright
What you have to factor in now is the amount of distractions for kids.
I had football and a bike. Now they’ve got iPads, Twitter, so much to do that kicking a ball can be seen as boring.
Louis Smith
Gymnastics silver and bronze
I GREW up with attention deficit disorder and sport was the thing that helped me tame it and burn off that excess energy.
Sport has actual benefits for kids in terms of happiness and development.
'Great idea' ... Louis Smith
I was inspired watching the Olympics as a kid, and I hope I can inspire children across the country today.
This campaign is a great idea.
Zac Taylor
Sun fitness columnist
Addicted ... Zac Taylor
YOU don’t have to be a pro athlete to make a career in sport. I was addicted to sport from an early age and now it’s even given me a career as a personal trainer.
Playing in the local sport at school kept me out of trouble, boosted my self-esteem and gave me confidence.
Amir Khan
Former world champion boxer
I’M a big believer in the benefit of physical exercise, especially for youngsters.
When I was a kid I had so much energy, and it was boxing and regular exercise that kept me on the straight and narrow.
Benefits ... Amir Khan
To me, being fit and healthy can only have a positive effect on the academic side of things.
That’s why I opened up Gloves Community Centre in Bolton and that’s why I believe a lesson a day of sport should be added to the school curriculum.
Marlon Devonish
Gold in men's 4x100 relay
I WOULD definitely back the campaign for a daily period dedicated to sport.
I’ve always said an active child becomes an active adult. We’re moving towards a society that lives indoors - we sit on our sofas tweeting about what we see on TV.
Support ... Marlon Devonish
If you want another Jessica Ennis or Christine Ohuruogu we need to encourage kids to be more active - especially girls.
A lot of kids need a direction in life, and sport can provide that. You don’t have to be a Usain Bolt, but it’s healthy and social, which is important.
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