London 2012 inspires BME sports players
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people motivated to do sport, voluntary work or cultural activities in the run up to London 2012
The latest results from the Taking Part survey, published today, show that in 2011, over one in five BME sport participants were motivated to do more sport by London winning the 2012 bid. This compares to one in 20 white participants.
BME volunteers also saw a significant rise in their motivation to do voluntary work as a result of London 2012, complementing a rise in the overall number of BME volunteers over the last seven years - from 20% to 25%. BME cultural participants were also over four times more likely to be motivated to do more cultural activities compared to white cultural participants.
Heritage boost
The survey also shows an increase in BME engagement in cultural and heritage activities over the last seven years. The number of BME adults visiting heritage sites in the last 12 months increased from 51% in 2005/06, when the survey began, to 58% in Jan-Dec 2011. A similar increase was seen in the proportion of BME groups visiting museums or galleries (35% to 42% over the same period).
The survey also showed:
- Record high levels of heritage, museum or gallery attendance and arts engagement for all adults
- A significant percentage increase since 2005/06 of adults doing 1x30 minute sessions of moderate intensity sport in the last week (from 41% to 44%)
Taking Part is a continuous annual survey of adults and children living in private households in England. Working with Arts Council England, English Heritage and Sport England, it collects data on participation in leisure, culture and sport in England, as well as an in-depth range of socio-demographic information.
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