London 2012: Ohuruogu says Games must engage kids
With a year until the opening ceremony, the 400m champion has called for more to be done to include youngsters.
Ohuruogu told the BBC: "I've seen, not apathy, but it is like, 'We don't take part in sports, what's in it for us?'.
"They are excited. However, it is very hard to sell the Olympic story when you have not experienced it."
Ohuruogu, 27, was brought up less than a mile from the Olympic site and has been speaking to young people in her local area.
And she added: "The general impression I get is that they are not really interested.
"I am fortunate enough to have been to two Games so I know how brilliant it can be. "They don't really see what is there for them. It is very hard to get people to understand how amazing it actually
"It is almost like it is for everybody else: people who are athletes, the sponsors, the older generations, all the ones who have money.
"I think that is a shame and there is more that needs to be done over the next year to make sure we include our all young people."
Ohuruogu's comments suggest she feels a key aim of London's Olympic bid - inspiring more young people to get involved in sport, both at school or college - might not be met.
However, a number of initiatives are already in place to increase participation. Earlier this month it was announced 2,000 people aged 16 and 18 were being sought to help out at the Games alongside the 70,000 adult volunteers.
A separate scheme will create young ambassadors from across the country whose challenge will be to help increase participation in sport and physical education.
Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, has previously predicted that the Olympics and its "lasting legacy" would inspire future generations to play sport.
But, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, Coe agreed with Ohuruogu that more needs to be done to inspire young people.
Continue reading the main story I do agree that in the next year we have more work to do to explain what we're doing
With a year until the opening ceremony, the 400m champion has called for more to be done to include youngsters.Ohuruogu told the BBC: "I've seen, not apathy, but it is like, 'We don't take part in sports, what's in it for us?'.
"They are excited. However, it is very hard to sell the Olympic story when you have not experienced it."
Ohuruogu, 27, was brought up less than a mile from the Olympic site and has been speaking to young people in her local area.
And she added: "The general impression I get is that they are not really interested.
"I am fortunate enough to have been to two Games so I know how brilliant it can be. "They don't really see what is there for them. It is very hard to get people to understand how amazing it actually
"It is almost like it is for everybody else: people who are athletes, the sponsors, the older generations, all the ones who have money."I think that is a shame and there is more that needs to be done over the next year to make sure we include our all young people."
Ohuruogu's comments suggest she feels a key aim of London's Olympic bid - inspiring more young people to get involved in sport, both at school or college - might not be met.
However, a number of initiatives are already in place to increase participation. Earlier this month it was announced 2,000 people aged 16 and 18 were being sought to help out at the Games alongside the 70,000 adult volunteers.A separate scheme will create young ambassadors from across the country whose challenge will be to help increase participation in sport and physical education.
Lord Coe, chairman of London 2012, has previously predicted that the Olympics and its "lasting legacy" would inspire future generations to play sport.
But, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, Coe agreed with Ohuruogu that more needs to be done to inspire young people.Continue reading the main story I do agree that in the next year we have more work to do to explain what we're doing
No comments:
Post a Comment