Snapshot survey shows big Olympics boost for council sport

Councils have had to draft in extra lifeguards, coaches and leisure centre staff and extend leisure centre opening hours manage to a surge in demand from Olympics enthused residents.

Other sports in council-owned facilities which have seen more uptake include gymnastics, sailing, cycling, badminton, handball, fencing, table tennis, beach volleyball, martial arts, basketball, volleyball, canoeing, archery and hockey. Many councils' summer sports programmes for children have also been booked out.

Council facilities played a key role in the success of the 2012 Games with about a third of councils having their sports facilities used by Team GB or Paralympics GB athletes.

The LGA undertook a survey of officers with the responsibility for sports development between 8 August 2012 and 24 August 2012 within all councils in England and Wales. The survey revealed 44 per cent of councils reported an increase in users during the Olympics.

Cllr Stephen Castle, chairman of the LGA's 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Task and Finish Group, said: "The scale of enthusiasm and wide variety of sports people are wanting to get involved in is really inspiring, and this snapshot survey just gives an indication of what's happening across the country. Many councils predicted a greater increase once the Olympics finished and they had fully collated their figures.

"A key measure of the success of the 2012 Games will be if sporting participation increases in the years ahead. Councils have a key role to play in this as it's their facilities people often rely on as they find private facilities prohibitively expensive. It's essential governing bodies, councils, local sports clubs and community groups work well together to seize the fantastic sporting fervour generated by the 2012 Games and make sure we keep people enthused about sport once the closing ceremonies are a distant memory.

"Councils are doing all they can to manage Government's 28 per cent funding cuts without reducing their sports and leisure services. They are striving to increase membership to generate income, joining with each other to make savings, negotiating contracts to get the most of every pound, sourcing external funding and working with voluntary groups, local sports clubs and business to reduce staffing costs and keep services going."

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