Putting sport on the Menu: Why sport is like Brussel Sprouts
For my Welsh Sport_The Conversation a range of experts share their thoughts on the future of sport in Wales.
Today sees Sport Wales Senior Insight Officer Lauren Carter-Davies explain why she thinks sport is like Brussel Sprouts.
Like Brussel sprouts, sport can contribute
to the wellbeing of future generations, but it isn’t essential
We all know that vegetables are good for us.
In particular, there are many benefits to eating Brussel sprouts. They are a
good source of vitamins C and K, and have been shown to contribute to lowering
cholesterol. In this way, Brussel sprouts can contribute to wellbeing, but so
too can other vegetables. You could go your whole life and never eat a Brussel
sprout and still have your health.
In the same way, it is well established that physical activity is an important
part of a healthy lifestyle. Specifically,
studies have shown that participation in sport, one of several forms of
physical activity, can improve physical and mental health. Therefore,
can sport contribute to a healthy lifestyle? Yes. But is sport essential to a
healthy lifestyle? No.
Indeed,
sport can contribute to many of the well-being goals laid out in the Well-being
of Future Generations Act. Sport can help to develop individual skills and
attributes, provide employment opportunities and wealth in the pursuit of a
Prosperous Wales. Likewise, sport can bring people together and provide an
avenue for well-connected social groups through shared team pride and sporting
clubs in pursuit of a Wales of Cohesive Communities. Like Brussel sprouts, sport
has a lot to offer, but it isn’t essential to wellbeing.
Like Brussel sprouts, sport is about the
experience
If
all Brussel sprout crops were wiped out this year, the human race would
survive. Nonetheless, Brussel sprouts are an important part of the traditional
Christmas time experience here in Wales.
Similarly,
though sport isn’t essential, it has an important part to play in the lives of
many. If we look at the definition of sport in the Oxford English Dictionary, it’s
described as a source of amusement or entertainment from which success or
pleasure is derived. Indeed, the true value of sport centres on the experience
it provides. To this end, if sport were to be placed on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
pyramid, it wouldn’t fit into the lower ‘basic need’ tiers like food or safety.
More likely, sport would be placed near to the top of the pyramid among the
categories of ‘esteem need’ or ‘self-actualisation’.
Yes,
for the most part sport is a leisure pursuit. And while arguably it is a very
valuable leisure pursuit, it is a leisure pursuit nonetheless. Sport is
competing with other demands for people’s time and other leisure activities,
and for those struggling with health, family or financial problems, sport is
likely to be low on the list of priorities. We therefore need to be realistic
when thinking about sport. In such a busy world, promoting active travel as a
health inspiring form of physical activity could arguably be a more efficient
way of improving the physical health of future generations than promoting sport,
because it reduces our CO2 footprint at the same time. But still we
promote sport. Why?
Because
sport offers something above and beyond what active travel and other forms of
physical activity can provide. Sport offers far more than just a way to stay
physically active, it offers experiences that fulfil higher-level needs
crucially important to a flourishing society. Therefore, if we want future
generations to thrive rather than just survive, sport needs to stay on the
agenda.
Like Brussel sprouts, everyone should have
the option of enjoying well-delivered sport
Overcooking Brussel sprouts makes them smell
like rotten eggs. On the other hand, roasted, sautéed or grilled sprouts can
taste sweet and nutty – and delicious. Everyone should have the option of
trying well prepared Brussel sprouts, no matter who they are. After all, there
are more than 110 different varieties of sprouts to choose from so there should
be a sprout for everyone.
Similarly, everyone, no matter how old, of what gender, skin colour, religion,
sexuality should have the chance
to take part in high quality sporting opportunities and experience the delights
of sport if they want to. Indeed, participation in sport is a choice
that everyone should have the opportunity to make.
But
for people to realise the benefits for themselves, sport needs to be ‘cooked’
properly. Like an overcooked Brussel sprout, a bad experience can put an
individual off for life. Sport isn’t a basic need, therefore it needs to be
appealing if it’s going to attract people to do it. It needs to be available at
the right place, at the right time, in the right form, for the right price and
delivered by the right people. If it’s not, like Brussel sprouts, sport will be
merely tolerated, or worse, discarded.
Like Brussel sprouts, sport can’t be the
only option and it can’t be served on its own
Brussel sprouts are only a small part of a
Christmas dinner. There are other vegetables and there are other food groups
which contribute to making it delicious.
Similarly, sport is only one part of the physical
activity spectrum. There are other forms of physical activity and there are
other organisations in Wales who must contribute to a coordinated menu of
options on offer for keeping physically active and fulfilling higher level
needs. Some people will choose sport. Others won’t. And that’s ok, as long as lack
of opportunity is not the thing holding them back.
What does all this mean for sport in Wales?
In
sum, we need to recognise that sport can contribute to the wellbeing of future
generations, but it isn’t essential. Sport isn’t a basic need, rather sport
enables the participant to fulfil higher level needs, to escape or experience
the pleasures of collective or individual achievement and pride. In this way, sport
has a lot to offer and should be on offer to everyone. Every child should be
enabled to experience these pleasures and every adult should have the
opportunity to continue to enjoy them if they want to. But sport isn’t the only
option to engage in physical activity and leisure, and not everyone will choose
to do sport. Some will love it. Others won’t care for it. And that’s ok. In a
time when society is increasingly recognising the benefits of and embracing
diversity we need to accept that there will be diversity in how the people of
Wales choose to spend their time. We need to recognise that there are other
options for physical activity and leisure available, and that by working with
other partners we can ensure that the menu of options on offer to engage in
physical and leisure activities is rich and varied.
So,
what does this mean for sport in Wales?
1. Our new vision needs to be realistic and clear about the
role of sport in contributing to the wellbeing of future generations.
So, sport
is a bit like Brussel sprouts. Some love them, some tolerate them for the health
benefits and some hate them. Regardless, everyone should have the opportunity
to eat them if they want to, alongside carrots, parsnips and cranberry sauce of
course…
Lauren Carter-Davies
Now it's time to let us have your thoughts. Use the Comments section below to share your views.
Sport Wales has launched 'My Welsh Sport _ The Conversation', an opportunity for everyone in Wales to give their view on Wales's sporting future.
For more information and to give your views visit www.mywelshsport.wales
You can read the Welsh version of this thought piece here.
For my Welsh Sport_The Conversation a range of experts share their thoughts on the future of sport in Wales.
Today sees Sport Wales Senior Insight Officer Lauren Carter-Davies explain why she thinks sport is like Brussel Sprouts.
Like Brussel sprouts, sport can contribute to the wellbeing of future generations, but it isn’t essential
Lauren Carter-Davies
Now it's time to let us have your thoughts. Use the Comments section below to share your views.
Sport Wales has launched 'My Welsh Sport _ The Conversation', an opportunity for everyone in Wales to give their view on Wales's sporting future.
For more information and to give your views visit www.mywelshsport.wales
You can read the Welsh version of this thought piece here.
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