Sports Day in Canada provides Canadians with an opportunity to move more through sport
TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - While almost all Canadians (96 per cent) believe that sport benefits their communities, only about 4 in 10 (37 per cent) say they participate in sport once a week or more, according to a recent survey commissioned by ParticipACTION. Sports Day in Canada, celebrating its third anniversary on September 29, 2012, provides the perfect opportunity for Canadians to get active and participate in sport.
"Sports Day in Canada aims to inspire Canadians of all ages to participate in sport, promote active, healthy living, and demonstrate how sport can be accessible for all," says Kelly Murumets, President and CEO, ParticipACTION. "We know that sport can transform lives and have an influential, positive impact on communities, and we encourage all Canadians to embrace the power of sport and celebrate with us."
Among the many benefits that sport can offer, the survey found that almost three quarters of Canadians (71 per cent) believe it can put children and youth on a positive course. More than six in 10 Canadians (63 per cent) believe that sport can stem the tide of childhood obesity, and almost half (47 per cent) say that sport can reduce health care costs.
"Sports Day in Canada is an excellent way to showcase the many benefits of sport to Canadians," says Karri Dawson, Director of Operations, True Sport. "To unleash the positive power of sport, we need to ensure a good sport experience; one that is fun, fair, inclusive and promotes personal excellence."
Sports Day in Canada strives to embrace the positive sport experience. In the week leading up to and including September 29, over a thousand local organizations, communities and schools across the country will host sporting events and activities, open houses and try-it days that showcase sport at all levels.
National Jersey Day, on Friday, September 28, provides another opportunity for Canadians to show their love for sport by wearing a jersey, team or club uniform to school, work or play.
"We share the belief that sport builds communities and inspires Canadians," says Chris Irwin, Executive Producer of Sports Programming, CBC Sports. "We are proud to be working with True Sport and ParticipACTION again this year to bring Sports Day events and stories to a national audience."
CBC Sports will celebrate this day of sport, and the week leading up to it, by profiling inspirational tales of Canadians and communities. Watch live as they showcase high-profile athletes, community-wide events, organizations, teams and clubs from cities and towns across the nation.
"The Government of Canada proudly supports the power of sport and the spirit of Sports Day in Canada," says the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "I applaud ParticipACTION, CBC Sports, Radio-Canada, and True Sport for bringing this exciting initiative to Canadians and for encouraging Canadians to take part in sport and lead active, healthy lives."
Get involved!
- Visit www.cbcsports.ca/sportsday to watch Sports Day stories and videos or to search for events in your area. Be on the lookout for elite athletes, politicians, Paralympians and Olympians who will make special appearances at some Sports Day in Canada events across the country.
- Wear a jersey, team or club uniform to work, school or play on Friday, September 28 to celebrate national Jersey Day and show your love of sport.
Watch it live!
Sports Day in Canada will be marked by a compelling broadcast event airing on CBC Sports on September 29. The broadcast will profile many standout community events that embody the Sports Day experience, unified by national anchor, Scott Russell.
About Sports Day in Canada
Sports Day in Canada, on Saturday, September 29, 2012, is a national celebration of sport, from grassroots to high-performance levels, in communities across Canada. Sports Day in Canada caps off a week of more than a thousand local events and activities, such as community-wide festivals, try-it days, open houses, games, competitions, meet-and-greets, tournaments, fun runs, spectator events and pep rallies, and includes a special television broadcast on CBC Sports. Sports Day in Canada is presented by CBC Sports, ParticipACTION and True Sport, working with national sporting organizations and their networks of coaches, athletes and enthusiasts across the country. Sports Day in Canada is generously supported by Sport Canada, Subway Restaurant, New Balance Canada and B.C.'s Ministry of Health. For more information about Sports Day in Canada, please visit: www.cbcsports.ca/sportsday
About the survey
From September 6-7, 2012 an online survey was conducted among 1,003 randomly selected Canadian adults on the Angus Reid Forum. The margin of error is =/- 3.09%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to age, gender, region and education (and language in Quebec).
To view the B.C. release, click http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2012/24/c9004.html
SOURCE: ParticipACTION
For a list of other events taking place across the country, please visit www.cbcsports.ca/sportsday. For more information on Sports Day in Canada or to speak to a spokesperson, please contact:
Kelsey Strickland
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
(416) 413-4788
[email protected]
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