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A NEW INTERNATIONAL scale to measure children’s physical activity has graded Ireland with a D minus.
In academic terms, that’s barely a pass of course.
And while the findings are hardly encouraging, they place us right in the middle of the ‘global matrix’ of other countries also employing the system.
“Ireland is neither leading nor lagging on how supportive we are as a country to children’s physical activity,” said Dr Deirde Harrington, who chaired the research group that developed the Irish ‘Report Card on Physical Activity and Youth’.
“There are some things we do well and we need to keep momentum up. But there are also many gaps, including the development, launch and implementation of a National Physical Activity Plan that is adequately funded.”
Fifteen countries from around the world are publishing their grades based on children’s physical activity at the Global Summit on Physical Activity of Children in Toronto today.
Data compiled from the island of Ireland shows that only between only between 12 per cent and 43 cent of children actually get enough physical activity.
Overall Physical Activity Levels – D minus
Organised Sport Participation – C minus
Physical Education – D minus
Active Play – Inconclusive
Active Transportation – D
Sedentary Behaviour (TV viewing) – C minus
Home (support from family) – Inconclusive
School (extra-curricular sport) – C minus
Community and the Built Environment (perceptions) – B
Government (strategies and investments) – Inconclusive
“This report shows that everyone, from teachers and parents to policy-makers, has a collective responsibility to increase children’s physical activity levels,” said Professor Marie Murphy of the University of Ulster, which also contributed to the report.
“I would encourage everyone to look at this evidence, look at the positive impact they could have on the health and well-being of future generations and take action.”
Dr Sarah Jane Belton, a lecturer in physical education at DCU, said she was concerned that the planned removal of PE as a subject from the junior cycle curriculum could cause problems in the future.
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So the book shamelessly plugged for weeks by Aoife at Journal.ie wins the Journal.ie sponsored award presented by Aoife. All above board so, move along.
This book was edited by Sepp Blatter and funded by Bertie Ahern. Well done to all.
The ‘If you sponsor an award you can pick which book you want to win’ awards.
Hi Peter, we sponsor the award – we don’t pick who wins. The votes for all of the awards are cast by a judging panel who we are not involved with or members of, and members of the public.
I wrote a number of articles as part of our sponsorship, (like other publications did) on a number of the nominees. You can find them if you search for ‘Irish book awards’ on the site.
Also I wrote two pieces on Long Gaze Back, one when it was published in September and one yesterday, after the public voting for the awards had closed.
The ” give everyone an award to get the books into the media to increase sales for Christmas awards”
“Ireland AM Crime Book of the Year”.
If I were that author I’d be dropping the “Ireland AM” bit from my CV.
Bressie looks delighted. I’m glad that he won an award. Awards for anthologies always puzzle me. It’s basically a prize for other peoples work and imagination.
So the Journal award goes to one of it’s own ???
To The Journal.ie… I am curious how votes were cast in your office for this award.. If #wakingthefeminist was about conspiracy AGAINST female writers, then I suppose this award is a conspiracy FOR female writers..
Hi Sinead, we sponsor the award – we don’t pick who wins. The votes for all of the awards are cast by a judging panel who we are not involved with or members of, and members of the public. Hope that clears things up for you.
Joe Duffy and Niall Breslin…….SAKE!
Right, that’s the feminist list.
Now where’s the real list?
Delighted for Dónal Ryan – a stunning collection of short stories. Well deserved!
But that award is for s single short story, ‘slanting of the sun’. I didn’t think it was the best story in the book?
I though gilmores book would have been a shoe in for the fiction award after all his promoting and drama and shot at dawn bull. Maybe it’s in the fantasy section or heaven forbid, maybe it’s just crap, and nobody’s buying it!
Jim mcguinnesses book is very good.
Awards for books that hardly anyone will bother reading.
speak for yourself
In my humble opinion Mr Donleavy is a tad over rated. The ginger man was his first and best book. After that he descended into a surreal sort of post aristocratic Irish pastiche. First prize for his longevity. Still fighting fit in his mid nineties. I suspect keeping his exposure to other humans to a minimum helps with this.
Not Ireland’s favourite books. They would be the ones people read and enjoyed. Most likely to be found topping the charts. These are winning books picked from eligible books whose entry is sponsored by the publisher. Having said that, for the winning authors, it’s nice to get the recognition. Congratulations to them.
Ur old enough to know the rich look after the rich best thing is they do not look happy happy days
I’m sure you’re right j k but I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.
No Irish author in the Mills & Boon series? No Irish novelist nominated for the Bad Sex award in Britain?
Joe Duffy – oh, is that the one with the national radio show, the one that’s been promoting his book all year, at licence payers’ expense? The one who had his book printed in Germany?
Oh yes, so it is.
“This is a local book for local/ German jobs.”
Yet the Bible keeps on selling, it reminds me of the so called charts. The best selling music that beats those on those famoust top 40 turns out to be classical music and Mozart keeps on selling.
So when I see charts, awards or the top 5 then I think that they exist in order to sell these goods as those who sell themselves well never get a mention…
have your say