Golden Girl Jessica Ennis became every girl’s new role model and icon. Even today everyone is still inspired by the Olympics and Paralympics which were held in London 2012. Since then the Taking Part survey discovered that over a third of 5-10 year olds had been encouraged to take part in sport. Furthermore nearly a fifth of children took part in school sports activities due to the Games being held in London.
 

I was able to speak to a teacher working in a local Beckenham primary school who informed me about the changes that were being made, and that have already been put in place, relating to the sports schedule. Recently they have hired a new head of Physical Education, since then they have incorporated a football, hockey and cross-country team. The football team plays matches every Friday and are open to anyone to come and watch, also the cross country-team will be running in crystal palace this weekend.
 

This overwhelming positive reaction from the UK public since the games has encouraged many to take part in more sports activities, it has also influenced the government to push for more sports and sports funding for schools. For the local Beckenham primary school this funding money has been put into paying for specialist hockey teachers for each year to have an hour’s sports lesson. This has excited many of the children and allowed them to enjoy the sports lessons.
 

‘I believe that by having young children playing sports within a team teaches them to be disciplined and organised’ explained one teacher that I spoke to. Not only does playing in a team offer these benefits but it also allows for schools in the local area to be linked and compete against one another. The local Beckenham school offers those in reception tennis practice once a week and sports twice a week for all other years.
 

The Olympics is still impacting on the UK in a positive way despite it being held in London in 2012. This increase in sporting activities will keep the new generation of children fit and healthy especially considering the moral panic occurring whereby the rise in child obesity is a problem. The World Health Organisation considers child obesity as one of the most problematic global health challenges. In 2012/13 over a fifth of those aged 4-5 were considered to be either overweight or obese. The local Beckenham school is tackling this problem with the increase in school physical activity but also by providing healthy meals, which are free for those up to year two.

Rosalyn Burton, Colfe's School