I am writing to your newspaper to specifically ask readers to demand that more action is taken on promoting exercise in Australia.
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Shocking figures show 3.2 million children are not doing enough exercise to meet health guidelines.
It’s enough children to fill 6,400 jumbo jets.
25 per cent of five to 17 year olds are overweight.
My organisation – the not-for-profit Confederation of Australian Sport – is asking the Federal Government to develop a new national campaign to unlock the real potential of Australian sport.
Readers can help by asking their local MP to find out what they are doing about this issue and why more isn’t being done.
The reality is 14 million Australians now don’t meet physical activity guidelines.
The scale of the issue is simply massive.
Conversely, if we saw a 15 per cent jump in the number of people meeting guidelines within five years – as the result of a new national campaign – much would change.
Thousands of lives would be saved.
Millions of dollars to the Australian economy would be saved.
A cross-sector approach involving the Health, Education and Sport sectors is needed to ensure success and much of this work has already be completed.
We cannot afford not to act.
We have been working in the field for 30 years and we know there has been a decline in physical activity in schools.
The bottom line is we need leadership from the Government on this issue.
Part of our frustration is that we have a national sports system that is ready to be used.
We have over 20,000 local community clubs that can be harnessed to make a difference.
To find out more, visit www.sportforall.com.au.
We ask readers to back our call that it is time for the Government to act.
Rob Bradley,
CEO, Confederation of Australian Sport
The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) is the national peak body for sport in Australia.
It was established in 1976, by 42 sports organisations, to advance the interests of the Australian sporting community and to give the industry a united voice in discussions and negotiations with governments and key stakeholders.