With the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics been and gone – it is time to reflect on the legacy left by the successful and very uplifting games.
The motto of the games was “Inspire a Generation”.
There however, appears to be a small problem when it comes to actually getting people get out to participate in sport – the availability of playing fields.
As a Canadian I am used to seeing playing fields be available to the public, they generally can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They can be used for picnics, running the dog, playing with the kids, as well as facilitating organized sport.
Things are a little different in England. I first noticed in 2004 that the English approach to playing fields accessablilty is a little different to the North American way of things. I was shocked to find out that playing fields associated with public schools are not open to the public. Almost every school playing field I have seen has been behind 8 foot fences and under lock and key. If you are able to scale the fence you will certainly be picked up by the enormous array of video cameras that watch your every move in this country.
I witnessed this firsthand the other evening as several teens jumped the fence on the public schoolyard behind where I am staying. Within 20 minutes 4 Lincolnshire police were chasing down the criminals.
The concept of denying access to tax payer funded facilities confabulates me. I am not sure if locking out the public is a result of how things have been done in this country for centuries, or possibly the risk of vandalism is so great that access to public open spaces can not be afforded. Either way the fences, locks, barbed wire and cameras makes me feel like criminal.
The other issue in England is the selling of public playing fields to developers. Is it possible that the justification for the sale is that the facilities are not being used, or just actions of short sighted cashed strapped government?
It would appear the practical result of the 2012 London Olympics is to inspire a generation to go play in the street.
