As a sports fan I thought the London Olympics were totally amazing and inspirational. I hope that people of all ages and from all walks of life will be enthused to be more active as a result of what we have just experienced.
Whether it be people being encouraged to take up competitive disciplines of sport or the many forms of non-competitive activities is irrelevant. What matters is that far more people become far more active in a way they enjoy and feel motivated to continue way into the future.
If more people are motivated to lead more active lives by walking more and cycling more, then that will have huge benefits for society and derive great pleasure for those individuals who take the decision to be more active.
Whilst an individual who chooses to take up badminton will need to go out and find a club and buy the gear, the same isn’t true for walking and cycling. You don’t exactly take up walking, you just decide to spend more time walking. Likewise cycling – most people already have a bike, they just need to decide to use it more often.
I believe the London 2012 Olympics will inspire all the generations, young, old and those in-between, to be more active; and the easiest way to be more active is to build more walking and cycling into our lives. You can walk or cycle to work, the shops, your friend’s house and even to the badminton club. Or, do like thousands of others do and walk or cycle to enjoy the journey.