An increasing share of light sports participants (e.g. self-organised runners) challenge traditional ‘Sport for All’ policy systems to target a more diversified array of people participating in sport and physical activity. The main aim of this article is to analyse whether light sport facilities, as a distinct local level policy intervention, can contribute to the goals of attracting ‘light’ and/or new sports participants with public means. The study is carried out in the context of a particular case of running facilities (i.e. bark running tracks, BRTs) in Flanders. The use of BRTs is investigated by structured face-to-face interviews with runners at the location of the BRT (n = 546; RR = 98.8%). The profile of users of BRTs is elaborated based on users’ characteristics (whether or not one started to run due to the provision of a BRT, the frequency and intensity of using the BRT) in bivariate logistic regression analysis. Next, reasons for using BRTs are investigated. It is concluded that BRTs mainly serve as a facility of the fragmented individualised society by reaching a large share of light sports participants (86%). However, it has the ability to reach runners at different levels, who show different patterns of using BRTs. It is suggested that so-called silent expectations in light facilities may function differently for different types of users. In this view, findings are discussed in order to identify policy implications related to Sport for All. …
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Despite several decades of Sport for All policies, opportunities for sports participation are still unequally divided, with certain socially disadvantaged groups having less access to sports. To reduce this gap, structural efforts are needed. A question that arises is what role nonprofit sports clubs can fulfill in this matter. In this study, first, it is explored how nonprofit sports clubs perceive their role and responsibility towards socially disadvantaged groups and how they act on it. Second, it is investigated which factors predict the presence or absence of efforts from nonprofit sports clubs for lowering barriers. For this second question, we focus on people living in poverty. Data are based on a survey among 580 nonprofit sports clubs throughout Flanders (Belgium). The findings indicate that the human resources capacity of the club is not the main barrier. It is argued that local sports authorities and sports federations have an important part to play in supporting and encouraging sports clubs in terms of social inclusionary policies, for example by instilling awareness.
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Purpose: Adolescents are insufficiently physically active and spent too much time sitting, which provides a health risk. In the current study the municipality of Amsterdam, secondary schools, experts in urban sports and researchers work together to stimulate healthy exercise behavior of adolescents. The urban sports facilities in the city of Amsterdam are at the center of this project. A variety of urban sports facilities have been realized over the last years. It remains however unknown which adolescents actually use these facilities. When urban space planning and physical education (PE) lessons at school are aligned and adjusted to the needs and preferences of adolescents, adolescents probably feel more competent to use the urban sport facilities surrounding their schools. The goal of this project is twofold: 1) findings working principles for designing urban sports facilities in the urban space surrounding schools 2) identifying elements in secondary school physical education lessons that motivate adolescents to use the urban sports facilities.Methods: This was investigated by applying design thinking methods and co creation sessions with adolescents, PE teachers, school boards, municipality and experts in urban sports.Results: First results indicate that needs, wishes and barriers of adolescents with regard to the use of urban sports facilities are currently insufficiently documented. Moreover, physical education teachers lack a feeling of competence in providing urban sports classes and there is insufficient coordination between schools, the municipality and providers of urban sports. Next steps in the design thinking cycle will be discussed as well as implications for the municipality with regard to planning of urban sports facilities around school, and how to connect physical education programming inside and outside secondary schools.
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The project goal is to contribute to a generation of universities and students who can use “design thinking” to overcome challenges and create an overview of exciting new concepts and designs for future sports centers in Europe.Consortium partnersIstanbul Teknik Universitesi, Stichting Orange Sports Forum, Instituto Politecnico de Beja, QXotc Unipessoal LDA, Nederlands Olympisch Comite-Nederlandse Sport Federatie Vereniging (NOCNSF)
