International Youth Day-IOC: The importance of young people's participation in sports
Parents also recognize the benefits of participating in sport, with over 90% saying they want their child to play sport to improve their physical and mental health.
However, according to the survey, young people report being less active due to a range of everyday barriers and global issues such as the cost of living (37%), climate change (30%) and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 (34% ).
The celebration of International Youth Day (International Youth Day) on August 12, was decided by the UN General Assembly in 1990, and focuses on the problems faced by young people around the world. For 2023 the theme is "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World".
The IOC report entitled “MoveNow. Move365' marks the first stage of a series of investigations to strengthen the role of sport in society to create a healthier environment for young people around the world.
Among the report's findings is that more than half of young people (55%) said they enjoy school more on days they are physically active. Youth who play sports at least once a week are more likely to report positive mood and self-confidence than those who play once a month.
However, less than 20% of young people report being physically active for five or more hours per week.
A variety of everyday obstacles prevent young people from being more active, with having other responsibilities being the most common barrier, cited by two-thirds (67%) of young people. The study also revealed concerns about not wanting to play sports with people they don't know (53%) or playing alone (50%) and worrying about other people's judgments (49%) or not being fit enough (49 %).
The survey found that certain demographic groups, including women and girls, and young people from low-income families, are less likely to be involved in sport and physical activity
