As an Australian who has lived in the UK for over 14 years, I am so pleased with the way the British are finally embracing the Olympics and different sports. Australians live and breath nearly all sports and the Olympics are a huge priority. Having said that, obesity rates are rising in Australia too, with children spending more time indoors and on computers.
I was also thrilled with the GB women's football team last night and the positive coverage they have been receiving. Women's sports do not get enough coverage in this country (or any country). In Australia netball is a huge sport and does get some tv coverage. In the 1990s mixed netball teams started as a bit of fun, but the men liked it and all-male leagues started too. Indoor cricket was popular in the 80s (mixed leagues there too) where they played inside nets. By the 90s this was less popular so indoor cricket centres introduced netball where there was no boundary lines, just the nets. I played in a mixed league and it was fast and furious playing against men and off the nets. As a kid we played all sorts of sports at school and out of school too. I was not sporty but played basketball, netball and squash in leagues out of school. School sports days were huge - no egg and spoon races! They were at the beginning of the year Swimming and Diving day in term 1; Athletics in term 2; and the winners would progress to the regionals, then zone, then state finals. The same would happen with the team sports - cricket, football, basketball, netball, tennis, golf, squash, table tennis, badminton, gymnastics, cross country . . . In primary school in years 5 & 6 we played other schools at team sport every Friday afternoon - volleyball, netball, cricket, football, bat tennis, rounders . . . and we would have a special sports day against other schools once a year for year 4 where boys competed in tunnel ball and girls in cross ball (passing a netball down the line then running to the other end like tunnel ball). These were great for developing ball skills and team spirit.
Someone posted the other day (Hannah I think) about the poor PE curriculum and being turned off exercising. There was a recent study/report on this in the UK, and hopefully something will be done (although I doubt it!). Although I didn't LOVE PE when I was in school, I think I had a better experience than I would have in the UK. In year 7 we did PE mixed with the boys, but in year 8 & 9 it was single sex. Year 10 was the best - we had to do PE for 1 semester and could choose from a long list of options - gymnastics, dance, racquet sports, golf, swimming, football (soccer, Aussie rules, rugby). I chose racquet sports and we walked to the local squash courts for our double lesson and then spent the two single lessons on tennis, badminton or table tennis (depending on the weather). I only chose this option because I could play squash, but I was amazed at how my coordination improved and I became a competent player in the other racquet sports.
Here's hoping the Olympics really do inspire a generation (or two!) and leave a positive and lasting legacy of GB
