Blueprint for a Physically Active City Blueprint for Why London is Special

London is different to other places in the UK. Some good differences; some not so good. a Physically Active City Some are strengths and opportunities; others are weaknesses and threats to achieving our goal of becoming the most physically active city in the world. Some characteristics we all recognise in our own perceptions of London, and some are more subtle. It is these elements that this Blueprint looks to either exploit or mitigate, to help London achieve its vision.

MASSIVE POPULATION GROWING POPULATION IN A SMALL AREA Expected to increase to over Over 8.5M people live here, 9M by 2020, with a predicted making up over 13% of the UK A ‘GREEN’ CITY 12% increase in children aged population, and with the number of Sadiq Khan Jennie Price Parks and green spaces account 5-19 and a 21% increase in over people commuting into London for Mayor of Chief Executive, work, the total daytime population London Sport England for nearly 40.0% of London, 65s. Between 2011 and 2015, the which is far higher in comparison population of London grew at is over 10m – yet the capital to other major cities such as New twice the rate of the UK accounts for just 0.6% of the I want to make our amazing city the undisputed Our vision is that everyone in England, York (14.0%) or Paris (9.4%). as a whole. UK’s land space. sporting capital of the world. regardless of age, background or ability, feels able to take part in sport or activity. We seek London has a history of hosting major sporting to increase the number of people who engage events. Our venues are world-class and they are in sport and activity, not for its own sake but ideal surroundings in which to showcase the for the wider benefits it can bring, in terms of best of elite sport. Londoners love sport too. physical and mental wellbeing and individual, Our enthusiasm for sport is second to none. community and economic development. This summer, London will hold both the IPC World Para Athletics Championships and the London has a very important role to play in IAAF World Championships. This is a world first, achieving this vision: it is a rapidly growing INTERNET AND underlining London’s position as a champion of city with a population of over 8 million people. MAJOR MOBILE TECHNOLOGY the greatest sports events in the world. Space is at a premium. London’s economy can SPORTING EVENTS London has the highest internet generate significant wealth but as a city London usage across the UK, with But I still want to do more. is also a place with some real inequalities which London 2012 provided a physical of Londoners are embedding inactivity as the norm for some and emotional legacy, and many 62% using As Mayor, I want to make London a more groups of people. I would like to see London more major sporting smartphone devices to access physically active city. I want to inspire use its strengths on the national and world the internet. Mobile coverage Londoners of all backgrounds to play sport and events are due to come stage to come up with creative ideas to tackle in the next decade, alongside the is exceptional, with 98% of take part in physical activities. I want to inspire these challenges and get people active. numerous elite sport teams that generations of Londoners to live healthier, London receiving 3G call London their home. coverage or better. more active lives. I want to use sport to bring This is an ambitious goal which is why we communities together and build a stronger, need a joined-up and ambitious strategy for more united city. increasing activity levels in the capital city. Leadership will also be important. Sport I know these are big ambitions for London. England will work closely with the Mayor of They’re not just ambitions for City Hall or London, the London Boroughs and London London Sport. They’re ambitions for every Sport to deliver our shared vision. single Londoner. We all have a part to play in making London a city that gives Londoners Since the Blueprint was first launched in 2015 TRANSPORT SYSTEM opportunities to be active. there has been real progress, but there is more London’s transport network WEALTH AND to do. We will continue to support the Blueprint This Blueprint is fundamental to my ambition provides quick and cost- as the best way to achieve significant and ECONOMIC GROWTH to make London a byword for sport at all levels. effective transport to the sustained reductions in inactivity across the London has the per head I look forward to supporting London Sport to entire London area, and is used by largest capital and to make London the most physically make our city more physically active, healthier approximately half of Londoners household disposable income active city in the world. and happier. every day. This not only helps in the country at £25,293 – over access to facilities, but provides £9000 higher than the North East. opportunities around active travel The capital has massive economic which has increased dramatically growth, with over a million private in recent years, with cycle trips up sector businesses based in London 118% between 2000 and 2015. – almost 20% of the UK total. VISION TO MAKE LONDON IS THIS THE RIGHT VISION? But There are Challenges THE MOST PHYSICALLY ACTIVE CITY IN The vision for London is difficult to measure, as different THE WORLD countries use different measurements. But that doesn’t matter. It is designed to set a clear direction and an ambition; not merely to improve, but set the standards for the rest of the world to follow. HIGH RATES OF INACTIVITY MASSIVE HUGE LANGUAGE WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? 38% of adults in London do INEQUALITY DIVERSITY It’s not just about sport for sport’s sake – it’s about its benefits: not meet Chief Medical Officer London has extremes in terms physical activity guidelines, putting of financial wealth, health and In 30 of the capital’s 33 local • 1m Londoners likely to LIVE LONGER them at a higher risk of chronic physical activity – often between authorities (32 boroughs and • 1m Londoners likely to BE HAPPIER disease, premature death, and areas neighbouring one another. the City of London), over TARGET lower quality of life. This is even London has one in three of the 100 languages are spoken, AN OVERALL TARGET • 1m Londoners LESS LIKELY to develop more pronounced among adults most deprived areas in the country, presenting a huge challenge TO CHANGE 1,000,000 SERIOUS CHRONIC ILLNESSES with an impairment, with not and the second and third most for effectively communicating 54% LIVES THROUGH • 1m Londoners LESS LIKELY to suffer from doing enough physical activity to inactive, and second and third least opportunities to take part in GETTING LONDONERS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES benefit their health. inactive local authorities in the UK. physical activity and sport. MORE ACTIVE

COMMUNITY BUILDING AND VOLUNTEERING CHALLENGES AGEING POPULATION London has an exceptionally With an increase of over 20% transient population, particularly in young people, with in those aged 65+ and a threefold increase expected in the 90+ age COST a ‘population churn’ rate twice WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? that of the rest of the country. group, London will face numerous London is the most Strategic Areas This has been identified as a health and social challenges expensive city to live in We realise that all of us could be more active, which is why major contributor to low rates of associated with supporting an within the UK, with free land our target includes everyone: not just the vital aim of getting volunteering in the capital. ageing population. at a premium. inactive people to become active, but also supporting those 1 Make it easier for Londoners to who already do something to do a bit more. In other words, find the right activity, stay in it, and it’s the net gain in the volume of activity. We estimate that achieve their potential around two thirds of the million will be made up of those not currently taking part in physical activity and sport in London, and around a third from getting those who are already active 2 Get more resources by making the to do something more. best use of what we have, while securing more WHY THESE AREAS? NUMEROUS These are the five areas that need focus to help achieve the goals set out in this Blueprint. They aren’t revolutionary, but STAKEHOLDERS 3 Support grassroots organisations PUBLIC by making the sector simpler and they take into account both the basic ingredients of physical London has a high number SECTOR CUTS better activity. These include: facilities, grassroots organisations and for one city, LEISURE FACILITIES the supporting workforce as well as opportunities such as of stakeholders While not unique to London, all both politically and in delivery. This London’s major events, and technical advances that could 33 local authorities in London AND OPEN SPACE includes 33 local authorities, the Champion the development of make it easier to support people to become more active. have needed to make substantial 4 same number of health authorities, London has around half a bigger and better workforce to numerous charities, commercial reductions in their the number of leisure support activity WHO WILL DO THIS? providers, schools and clubs all expenditure, with inevitable facilities per 100,000 people as In short – all of us. Physical activity and sport is run by providing sporting opportunities in implications on the amount spent the rest of the country, as well as thousands of organisations in London, from London Boroughs, London. This can make consensus on physical activity and sport in a relative shortage of open space, 5 Harness the power of elite sport to create sustained grassroots Governing Bodies of Sport and commercial operators, to local and progress challenging. London. compared with the rest of the UK. charities, schools and grassroots clubs. This Blueprint is a activity, and inspire the next framework for everyone to consider their role in contributing generation of talent to each of these five areas, and explore the areas in which we could be doing more. 2 Get more resources, 4 Champion the development of a bigger and by making best use better workforce to support activity

of what we have, Put simply, without the network of coaches, Supporting people already within the while securing more instructors, teachers and volunteers, physical workforce with better training and 1 Make it easier for activity and sport would not function. They development, reduced administrative Londoners to find There are a lot of resources going into are the single most important factor in burden, and better recognition and physical activity and sport in London. Before success or failure, yet changes in society celebration of their work are useful starting the right activity, making the case to increase investment, are squeezing the amount of free time that points. Improving and simplifying the stay in it, and achieve we need to make sure that we are making people have available. The vision of making process of getting involved is another, as the most of what’s already there. Again, the London the most physically active city in many people want to get involved and their potential commercial world presents some solutions: the world will need a larger workforce to simply don’t know how to go about it. The hotels drop prices at off-peak times to allow it to happen, which will need to come combination of these factors should help Physical activity and sport is, in some increase occupancy rates and profitability. from two sources: attracting new people to to generate a bigger, better workforce to significant ways, behind the times. Over Similarly, physical activity and sport in sport’s workforce, and motivating people to support London in becoming a more active the last decade, the world has changed London need to identify opportunities to stay in it. place to live and work. unrecognisably, and it continues to change improve efficiency. For instance, can we at pace. We have to accept that physical work more closely together on programmes activity and sport are in competition with to deliver more and simplify the message? other pursuits, most of which are far better Could we pool resources and do some 5 Harness the power of elite sport to create at offering their ‘product’ to the right person. things collectively? Could more schools Technological advances have changed every and private facilities be opened up for the sustained grassroots activity and inspire aspect of how we live our lives, with 58% of wider public? the next generation of talent us regularly using mobile internet (87% of This wouldn’t only give us more ‘bang for 16-24 year olds), and over 54% using social our buck’, but makes the task of securing There is no question that elite sport has a Add in the numerous Premier League and networking (91% of 16-24 year olds). These more investment far easier. A clear, efficient massive influence on many people’s lives, Football League clubs, Premiership Rugby advances will continue their exponential delivery mechanism that can evidence and is a big part of the country’s DNA. It has and County Cricket Clubs and numerous growth, even accelerating, over the next impact for investment is a far more a unique ability to inspire and influence, and other leading sport clubs, and it is clear that decade. The business world has exploited attractive proposition for all concerned. London has established itself as the pre- London has an unrivalled potential to inspire this shift to improve the way it offers eminent major event destination city in the people through elite sport. The challenge is products to its customers, and customers world. In the eight years following the 2012 to harness the physical and emotional legacy have changed the way they consume them. Olympic and Paralympic Games alone, the into long-term sustainable participation, 3 Support grassroots World Athletics Championships and Para across the whole of London, and in turn Physical activity and sport, collectively, Athletics Championships, the European help to inspire the next generation of elite has thousands of ‘products’, all aimed at organisations by Football Championships Semi-Finals and sportspeople. different people. We need to follow the making the sector Final, European Swimming Championships, established methods of the business world UCI World Track Cycling Championships, to make sure there is a product for everyone, simpler and better and the Women’s Hockey and Cricket and then that the right one is offered to the World Cups will have formed part of right people. Physical activity and sport in London is run elite sport in London. through an extensive network of bodies, The potential rewards of this area are agencies, clubs, charities and community enormous. Simply reusing established organisations. Many are reliant on external business methods could help to increase funding to operate, and many face an the number of people accessing existing uncertain future. These pressures place activities. The potential of digital promotion a huge burden on those running these alone is massive, and is cheaper than other organisations, many of whom are volunteers. routes, but the sector lacks expertise in This burden needs to be eased in London exploiting these opportunities. by making the system easier to navigate, Physical activity and sport needs to be at eliminating unnecessary administrative the forefront of exploring new opportunities burden, and simplifying the complex world – technological, and otherwise; not simply of funding to free up more time to focus on content to try and keep pace. delivering physical activity and sport. londonsport.org