Budget Cuts Strike Close to Home

The defense budget is being cut. Travel fares are on the rise. Students are mashing up central London because they’re tuition fees are set to soar. I’ve managed to remain neutral about the impact of this ‘coalition’ government – until I found out that the already paltry sports budget could be SLASHED.

 

The thought of the amount of undiscovered talent scattered around the country due to a lack of resources, outlets and foresight makes me sick. If sports is a sector that doesn’t need a budget – why bother to host the Olympics? For first row seats? Bragging rights? Puh-leeze.

 

The development of sports has been an uphill battle in this country and we are only now beginning to feel that some sort of ground is being broken with regards to the average child’s access to various organised sports.

 

Some of you might think ‘big deal, a bunch of kids won’t be able to kick a ball around anymore’ but it is a big deal - bigger than most people understand.

 

A well developed sports structure could be a major impact on this country’s challenges with obesity, anti social behaviour and general apathy. Participation in organised sports can play a key role in an individual’s overall development. The playing ground is where a child develops a healthy, competitive spirit, learns how to work well with others, raises their confidence, acquires leadership skills, learns how to be disciplined and also keeps the body and essentially the mind healthy.

I don’t have the answers to this conundrum, but feel very strongly against decisions that hinder the development of sports in the UK. Should the decision to cut the budget go ahead, the social landscape in 10 years time could be very interesting indeed.