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Welsh sports summit aims to help people live healthier lives
Welsh First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, opened the Welsh Assembly Government's Sports Summit this morning, saying that low levels of physical activity is ‘casting a shadow over Welsh society’ with a growing number of people facing ‘chronic ill-health problems because of their inactive, sedentary lifestyle’.
The summit, taking place today and tomorrow (29-30 January) was convened by sports minister Alun Pugh, to discuss what action is needed to make the Welsh a healthier and more active nation.
Morgan said this morning: "Wales has some of the most pressing problems of ill-health of anywhere in the UK. The consequences of that ill health bear down every day on the service. It impacts on our hospitals and primary care teams and on local authority care services and other public services.
"Today's Sports Summit is about our ambition to create a fitter and healthier Wales.”
The summit is being supported by a number of Welsh sports stars, including BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2003, cyclist, Nicole Cooke.
Cooke said: “There are so many gyms and fitness groups about that it’s become easy to think you’re doing something good by working out for an hour a week, but that’s not the whole picture.
“To become fit and healthy you need a fundamental change of lifestyle.”
Two young sportspeople also got their chance to tell the summit what they wanted to see in the future of Welsh sport this morning.
Seventeen-year-old hockey player, Thomas Rees and 18-year-old athlete, Sarah McRobie told the summit about the hurdles preventing children taking part in active recreation.
In 2003, Pugh launched Climbing Higher, the Assembly Government’s draft sport strategy. The summit was the final stage of the consultation process to finalising the strategy.