Olympics legacy

Wasn't it his part that sold off school playing fields to make money [not sure who for?].

Allowed local councils to sell off school land - some did, a lot didn't.

Not only were the PE specialists shared they also had the time available cut to useless amounts.

vamp, what do you mean by 'cut useless amounts'?

It wasn't just the conservatives:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/5933728/More-than-200-playing-fields-sold-off-under-Labour-Government-figures-show.html

There was a very interesting debate on Any answers on Radio 4 yesterday where a jurnalist for the Guardian was emphatic ther would be no legacy from the Olympics.

I don't have a problem with Cameron 're-inventing the wheel' if the success and anticipated legacy that these Olympics may bring promotes and highlights sport in a way that young people can access and enjoy, across the board.
It would be such a shame if, because of the recent cuts, his recent shortsightedness with this prevented any sprig-board (to use a sporty phrase)for a U-turn in this area.
Sport is something where many young people are able to channel their energies - often giving them increased self-esteem, confidence and health.
If he does as he says he will, then I am all for it. Let's see if he puts his money where his mouth is.

I did find it interesting that there seems to be posh sports and non posh sports - equestrian and athletics - I wonder if these two will ever be accessible/ attractive to all.

I wouldn't have said athletics was posh susie Most of the athletes seem to come from ordinary backgrounds, don't they? (Not having a go, just wondering. I do know some athletes.)

And, on the sport for all bit, did you hear several athletes talking about their PE teachers, who were the first to recognise their talents? Yet these are more the teachers whose jobs are made increasingly difficult.

My husband quipped about it being the middle-class olympics. We'd been talking about just this issue, susiecb.
We came to the conclusion that 'posh' sports are still mainly dominated by those who are financially advantaged but have choices in all sports - whereas those with less resources do not have such choices.. .......... as in nearly all aspects of life.
No surprises there then!
There used to be a Government initiative called Sport for All - I wonder what happened to it? Perhaps it should be called ALL Sport for All.

Posh = rowing, riding, shooting, sailing etc
Non posh = athletics, cycling, gymnastics, boxing

I just think it is a pity if something good has been so recently and deliberately dismantled, only to try to get political advantage by re-launching mark 2 a few months later. Those who have lost their jobs may no longer be available in 12 months time to apply to whatever new scheme they set up and their expertise and working relationships with primary schools are lost.

Yes, it is a real pity, I agree. I'd be interested to see if Mark 2 actually materialises.

Why is sailing posh? There are lots of opportunities for young people to try it for free!

Annobel....'cut to useless amount'......at one point we had a PE specialist for 2 hours a term.....thats 2 hours in 12/14 weeks. The inital idea in our LEA was that the PE specialist would take a series of lessons over several weeks so that the children benefitted from specialist teaching and we non-specialists would learn so that we could become better PE teachers. At first we had them one afternoon a week for six weeks which meant they could teach a whole theme.

Sorry vampire - didn't read it properly. I must remember to make that eye test appointment.

'Ordinary' families make considerable sacrifices to nurture their children's sporting talents. Morning and evening trips to swimming pools and athletics tracks are undertaken - many miles travelled in the family car. Great expense is, inevitably, incurred in taking children to swimming and athletics meets, not to mention hockey and football matches. Dedication is not confined to the athlete alone. What's more, other children do not always admire the aspiring sportsperson. Tom Daley was badly bullied at his state school and was fortunate to be awarded a scholarship to a local independent school.

I think though that the non-posh success has been won at much more of an individual effort than the posh as the facilities of the posh are far superior generally than the non-posh and to a certain extent it is simply there for the taking for the budding posh sportsbod. Non-posh really do have to strive harder. Up the non-poshes!!! Well up to them all really.

I have doubts about there being a legacy or, at least, a lasting one. This is such an age of instant gratification, yet to be a halfway competent athlete or sportsperson takes dedication, commitment and an ability to overcome disappointment and defeat, never mind what it takes to become a serious player. I don't believe this government intends to or actually will do much to encourage sporting activities in schools. It like the stars because it feels that this reflects well on its support for them. Instant gratification again.

Fencing used to be quite posh. I don't know what it's like now.

I can't see what's wrong with having "posh and non posh" sports so long as the results are worth all the hard work and investment. A little girl, living in a high rise flat with a shelf full of 'My Little Ponies' might dream of being a showjumper but is likely to have access to a sports centre, ice rink and other facilities. People living rural lives whether well heeled or not have access to stables, rivers, clay pigeon shoots etc. What is wrong with wealthy people encouraging their children to take up sports that have traditionally fitted in with their life style?

Half a century (!) ago, a young man from our town represented our country at fencing and none of our families was at all posh! I hope 'ordinary' youngsters are still able to access this highly skilful activity.
It's worth noting that martial arts - judo, karate and taikwondo - are all accessible to 'non-posh' children and are excellent for building self-discipline whether or not they reach the black belt level.

It all boils down to access and in some cases money e.g. owning and caring well for a horse is out of most people's reach, let alone all the costs of training equipment etc. The really anoying thing is that we may well have some brilliant potential riders, rowers, sailers etc - amongst the ordinary folk - much better in fact than our current olympists but they will never get the chance to shine.

Yes Showjumping is probably the ultimate posh due to the cost of the horses you need as basic equipment
If Eton school don't produce generations of brilliant rowers, with that facility on their doorstep, we would like to know why. Hope that other local schools can also get to use it. In NZ rowing is non-posh. It helps that they have a number of great rivers and sheltered bays to do it in. In a smallish town like Wanganui there are 2 rowing clubs.
Here is it mainly done by posh schools and universities with access to the few decent rivers. My DH did rowing in Bangor Uni - they used the choppy Menai Straits love 'em.
You can see if you walk around Stowe (Branson's old public school - grounds now in NT care) the facilities the school students have, including their own golf course and shooting range.
I have never met a non-posh sailing person jeni. In my (ex) school the kids did get a chance to do a bit of sailing. But their parents are no more likely to get them to regular sessions in the local lake than they are to book them in for flying lessons. Apart from anything else lessons in sailing, riding etc do not come free. Our school, although sporty, and although school has good facilities, never win anything in sports, because the kids do not have parents who take them to things outside schools. (Apart from a very few who do things like judo, boxing and football outside school) And, it has to be said, they are not as well nourished as kids from more middle class schools. The PE teachers see the difference in size! And then there is the obsession with soccer... Where does that get us... Mo Farah had a lucky escape when his PE teacher steered him away from soccer and into running.

The School Sports Partnership programme was great! It linked groups of schools, secondary and primary and funded a sports co-ordinator to organise opportunities for the schools to access more sports vi links with clubs/ private facilities etc etc. Our kids (3-7 yr olds) got to do all sorts & with specialists that we could not have had the time to explore, negotiate etc etc. Sadly part of current governments cuts.

Inspiring a generation is the strap line of these olympics..it's doing that for my DGD aged 6. She is so excited by all the events and thinks she might become a hurdler , gymnast or tennis player! We went to watch the kayak/canoe heats today and though she enjoyed watching decided it was not for her!!