Wasted Talent

Police car ablaze at Woolwich Arsenal

Sport is one of the most successful ways of preventing crime. This claim was made by the RFU last week (and by myself whenever I get an opportunity.)

I observed some of the images from the London riots with a degree of amazement due to the underlying irony of the situation - watching the riots unfold was like watching a massive pool of wasted sporting talent run amok in the streets.

The looters that were running away from police and their dogs could have been sprinters. The rioters that were pelting cones at shop windows could have been discus throwers and shot putters. The troublemakers who were pushing huge waste bins towards the police could have been rugby players. The ring leaders who were organising the mayhem could have been football managers. Instead of performing on an international or professional level, they are scampering through the streets reaching in search of material spoils – not personal success.

How many of those young people would have actually been participating in such destructive activity had they been involved in competitive, organised sports?

I’m not saying that all young athletes are angel faced citizens who never get up to mischief.... but I highly doubt there were many serious or semi-serious athletes involved in the London riots.

I’m constantly harping on about the need for more sport programmes for young men and women to be involved in. Programmes with longevity that inspire youngsters to reach the upper echelon of their chosen discipline – not badly funded programmes that leave them out of pocket and deflated.

Maybe sports aren’t the magic tonic that heals all of society’s wounds, but it certainly can’t hurt to test it and see.