Declining sports participation, a myth?

dragonkin

I read recently that in the 'developed world' sports participation is in decline due to computers/playstations/time pressure etc, I'm quite young so I don't have long term knowledge but I'm not sure if I agree with this statement, I've looked up a few websites but it's very had to find relevant data especially for Ireland.

It seems to me that sports are becoming more and more popular there are loads of new sports developing in Ireland like Basketball/Surfing etc. Surely every rugby club is jammed with players since the professional age came and its profile got so much bigger. The other big two GAA and football seem to be going very strong as well. Although its hard to get figures ie new clubs vs closed clubs.

There seems to be increasing TV coverage of sporting occassions. The government is loaded and alot of clubs and facilites have been developed eg UL arena and the other 50m swimming pools. TCD is building a new sports complex at the moment etc.
Many of the sporting organisations have got much more professional and now have full time staff even marketing people.

I'm aware that there probably was a general decline as computers/playstations and modern time pressures must have made some kind of impact but I'm assuming we are getting used to the modern Ireland now and can we expect to see sports participation starting an upward trend in the future? Especially as many people seem to be more health concious and realise the benefits of playing sport (despite rising obesity levels).

I'm interested in hearing other peoples opinions/personal experiences.

wahlrab

sports are getting more popular but they are not popular enough in my opinion, because:
1. outside of the big towns and cities there is very poor facilities, swimming pools in need of repair, only the local gaa pitch, golf courses which cost way too much to join likewise with gyms they're so expensive,
2. then there is also a lack of diversity of sports, eg if you don't make the gaa/soccer team in my town kells, tough luck you don't get to train,
3. running i know is great, free, etc. etc. but most young kids are not able to motivate themselves
4. with exercise comes happiness, this is a fact as the chemicals which are in your body after exercise make you feel good

there are a load of reasons and indirect reasons for why i think sports are developed enough here in ireland among the youth but thats my 2c's really,

good topic to bring up though,

maybe mandatory after school sports would work they have that system in most private/boarding schools,

obviously we need to look at what a great job austrailia has done,

lotta fat kids round today though

e

Borderfox

I would have to say that is quite true, it really is the playstation generation. Rather than playing football outside which only requires a green space or even on the road, they prefer to play Fifa on the PS. The arguement about lack of facilities is a crock. There was no facilities when I was growing up so we had to use what was around us or get on our bikes and find something to do. Lots of fat people around everywhere!!