This Ireland case study is relevant to theCity of Cape Town because it:• Provides recommendations on ways toincrease levels of participation amongyoung people, with an emphasis onteen girls.• Suggests a possible approach that aimsto ensure sustainability in theparticipation levels of young people inphysical activities, through partnershipswith schools and the active involvementof young people in decision making.• Recommends a cooperative strategybetween various governmentdepartments and agencies, all of whichplay an important role in the deliveryof programmes.CASE STUDY 4: WALESUnlike the other case studies, the county of Ceredigion inWales reports satisfactory participation levels in sport,recreation and leisure, yet still highlights Council objectivesfor maintaining and increasing levels of participation. x TheCeredigion County Council developed the Strategy forSport and Leisure 2006-2010 with the aim of ensuring thecontinued provision of high quality, effective and efficientrecreation, sport and leisure within Ceredigion. 18 Thisstrategy thus provides the basis for planned policies, objectivesand actions for a five year period. In increasingparticipation within Ceredigion, the Ceredigion CountyCouncil <strong>Recreation</strong> services implemented specific objectives.Amongst others, these objectives included:• Encouraging the development of a wide and variedrange of sport, recreation and leisure activities thattargets all sectors of the community and isaffordable and accessible.• Providing suitable levels of sport, recreation andleisure training and encouraging the developmentof talented sports people.• Developing talented junior sports people and ensuringthe development of coaches, as well as encouragingthe support of volunteers in sports and recreation.• Encouraging more participation by women andgirls, as well as people with disabilities, in sportsand recreation.• Improving current facilities and developing newones that are needed by, and attractive to, allmembers of the community.• Promoting physical activity that is not facility-basedsuch as walking, cycling and other outdoor activities.• Marketing and promoting Ceredigion Councilprovisions through working partnerships.Although the Ceredigion County Council has publishedits Physical Activity Plan 2007-2011, it does not provideany information on the impact of the above objectiveson the participation of the community in sport, recreationand leisure within Ceredigion. However, it isnotable that they have continued to be pro-active evenafter reaching satisfactory levels of participation.This Wales case study is relevant to the Cityof Cape Town because it:• Provides objectives that aim to maintainand ensure participation levels among arange of target groups.FIGURE 16: KAYAKING IN WALES (SOURCE: STOCK WEB PHOTO)• Highlights the need for developingworking partnerships to increase theopportunities for residents to participatein active sport, recreation andleisure activities.x. Unfortunately, they did not provide specific statistics, but note that their benchmark is to increase participation by 1% every year.24 CITY OF CAPE TOWN RECREATION STUDY
FIGURE 19: LE PETIT TENNIS 2010 (SOURCE: SRA)The South African Context4The following chapter explores policies and previous research in the area ofsport and recreation in South Africa.4.1 NATIONAL TRENDS IN SPORTAND RECREATIONIn June 2008, the HSRC assessed participation levelsamong South Africans in sport and recreation activities. 19More than half of the South Africans that participated inthe national survey (58%) said that they never engage inphysical activities. XIOnly 15.5% said they participate in physical activitiesseveral times a week. This is very low compared toAustralia where 66% of residents (aged 15 years andolder) participated in some form of sport or physicalrecreation more than twice each week in 2005/2006, 20Singapore where 50% of residents were participatingin sport every week in 2005 (see earlier case study) 21and Botswana where up to 47.4% of residents insome communities participate in non-competitivesport and recreation. 224.1.1 National preferences and barriersinfluencing participationThe HSRC results show that the favourite leisure activitiesof the majority of South Africans are listening tomusic, watching TV, DVDs or videos and socialising withfriends. 23 The results showed that younger people inSouth Africa are more likely to participate in sport thanolder people – the 18 to 34 year-old age group is threetimes more likely to participate in sport than the 35 to54 year-old age group. 24 Furthermore, males are threetimes more likely to participate in sport than women.Racial segregation, according to the HSRC study, stillplays a dominant role in sport participation. The surveyresults suggest that white South Africans are three timesmore likely to participate in sport than coloured people,and twice as likely as black and Indian residents. 25 Incontrast, 72% of coloured respondents reported thatthey never participate in any kind of physical activity.xi. The survey was conducted among 2 907 respondents 16 years and older and is representative of households in South Africa.RESEARCH REPORT JANUARY 201125
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