Relay

SPARC

Hockey and rugby greats honoured - 24 Jun 2008
Hockey's Selwyn Maister and rugby's Richie Guy have received lifetime achievement awards from the government's sport and recreation agency, SPARC, in recognition of their huge contributions to sport. (beehive.govt.nz)

Summits for Sir Ed a tribute to a great New Zealander - 30 May 2008
Sport and Recreation Minister Clayton Cosgrove has congratulated the organisers of the Summits for Ed Tribute Tour which finished at Cape Reinga yesterday. (beehive.govt.nz)

High Performance Sport

Commonwealth Youth Games Manager Appointed - 25 Jun 2008
Athletics New Zealand is pleased to announce that Mark Harris has been appointed as team manager for the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India. (Athletics NZ)

NZ Opens Up News Media Internet Rules - 12 Jun 2008
The IOC and Television New Zealand (TVNZ), in cooperation with The Radio Network, has introduced supplementary News Access Rules which address the broadcast, communication or other like transmission of Olympic Material on the Internet. (NZOC)

Irish Institute of Sport Unveil New Athlete Education and Career Support Programmes - 24 Jun 2008
A new initiative of the Irish Institute of Sport to support elite athletes through their sporting careers and into a life after sport has been unveiled. The Athlete Lifestyle Programmes allow athletes to combine study and work opportunities with their careers as elite international competitors. (Irish Sports Council)

NZOC Endorses Tougher Anti-Doping Stance - 29 May 2008
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued the IOC Anti-Doping Rules which will be applied during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (NZOC)

WADA President Calls on Nations, Sports to Send Clean Athletes to Beijing - 23 Jun 2008
It is the responsibility of countries and sports federations to send clean athletes to the Olympic Games, says WADA's President John Fahey. (WADA)

London 2012 Olympic Legacy Action Plan - 6 Jun 2008
This action plan is about the long-term benefits that the UK can stimulate through London hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012. (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK)

Sports Development

Van Hattum takes chair at New Zealand Football - 25 Jun 2008
Former All Whites goalkeeper Frank van Hattum is New Zealand Football's new chairman after the sport's annual congress elected a new seven member board on Wednesday. (NZ Football)

Football mourns 'father of Oceania foootball' - 25 Jun 2008
New Zealand Football chairman Frank van Hattum described news of  Charlie Dempsey's death as a "dark day" for the sport. (NZ Football)

Wellington the Winner says NZI Sevens Economic Report - 31 May 2008
More people are coming to the NZI Sevens than ever before, enjoying themselves more and spending more, according to an economic impact report commissioned by Wellington City Council, New Zealand. (Wellington City Council, NZ)

Volunteers in sport: Issues and Innovations - Mar 2008
This is a study of innovative volunteer club practices and the issues facing volunteers throughout New South Wales, Australia. (NSW Sport and Recreation, Australia)

Environmental Review of Integrity in Professional Tennis - May 2008
This Environmental Review has examined the threats to the integrity of professional tennis and makes recommendations to address them. (International Tennis Federation)

Prince Feisal launches 'Generations for Peace' - 2 Jun 2008
His Royal Highness, Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, the founder and chairman of the global initiative ‘Peace Through Sport’, has changed the name of his flagship project to 'Generations For Peace'. (Sportbusiness.com)

Australian Ministers Agree to Coordinated Approach to Sport and Recreation - 12 Jun 2008
Australia's Sports Ministers today agreed to undertake an ambitious reform agenda to secure Australia's sporting future and get more Aussie kids healthy and active. (Sport Administrator Network)

Playing to win: A New Era for Sport - 10 Jun 2008
Physical activity by its nature is a cross-Government responsibility and a range of Departments are leading on creating more opportunities to get physically active in the UK. (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK)
 
Management by values: a new way of doing business in Canadian sport - a discussion paper - Mar 2008
It is often said that there is nothing more powerful than a good idea whose time has come. The time has never been better for sport organizations to consider the important role of values in their mandate and activities, and the contribution that 'management by values' can make in their operations. (SIRC, Canada)

Sports Science, Medicine and Coaching

What to do Before Hitting the Road: Three Key Tasks While Preparing for the "Big One" - Jun 2008
This column is a stripped-down list of only three items that athletes and coaches should be sure to do just prior to any big sporting event. (USOC Olympian E-Magazine)

Elite Young Athletes Need Close Monitoring by Parents, Coaches - 28 May 2008
Many parents and coaches of gifted child athletes entertain dreams of Olympic gold for their young charges.  But prudence needs to be taken with elite child athletes. The focus has to be first and foremost on the wellbeing of the child.  (ACSM)

Coaching Highlighted in Sport England Strategy - 10 Jun 2008
Coaching is key to delivery of the new strategy that has been unveiled by Sport England. (Sport Coach UK)

Athletic Benefit of Growth Hormone Doping: Is it all in the Athlete's Mind? - 17 Jun 2008
If athletes believe they are using a performing-enhancing drug, they may think their athletic performance improves, and in some men it can, even if they are actually taking a dummy drug, a new study has found. (Newswise)

Sprinters Closest to Starter Pistol Have Advantage - 18 Jun 2008
Researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton studying the connection between loud sounds and reaction time are reporting findings that may have sprinters thinking twice about lane assignments at the upcoming Olympics. (Newswise)

Going for Gold with the Help of New Technologies - Jun 2008
The Telegraph recently featured two stories on EPSRC funded research into technologies for future skiing and swimming champions in the UK. (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK)

Pre-Event Meals - Jun 2008
It is well established that exercise performance can be affected by diet and, in order to maintain optimal training, the body must be properly fueled with appropriate nutrients. The pre-event meal is an integral part of the complete training plan. (USOC Olympian E-Magazine)

Post-Exercise Nutrition: Recommendations for Resistance and Endurance Training - May/Jun 2008
This article provides a summary of studies on post-exercise nutrition, together with research drawn recommendations. (NSCAs Performance Training Journal)

Asthmatic athletes face twin pressures - 18 Jun 2008
Bad air could cause major problems for Olympic athletes who will have to deal with Beijing's pollution and strict anti-doping regulations surrounding asthma medication in August. (Reuters Health)

The Effects of Multiple Cold Water Immersions on Indices of Muscle Damage - Jun 2008
The aim of this investigation was to elucidate the efficacy of repeated cold water immersions (CWI) in the recovery of exercise induced muscle damage. (Journal of Sports Science and Medicine)

Acute Effects of Self-Selected Regimen of Rapid Body Mass Loss in Combat Sports Athletes - Jun 2008
The purpose of the study was to assess the acute effects of the self-selected regimen of rapid body mass loss (RBML) on muscle performance and metabolic response to exercise in combat sports athletes. (Journal of Sports Science and Medicine)

Athletes Susceptible to Antibiotic-resistant Staph Infections - 24 Jun 2008
Dermatologists are finding that MRSA infections have become increasingly common among people participating in sports, including high school and college athletes. (Newswise)

Bone health may suffer in non-menstruating athletes - 20 Jun 2008
Researchers found that among 57 athletic and non-athletic teenage girls, athletes who had stopped getting their periods had lower bone density than their peers. (Reuters Health)

Healthy Active Communities

Cornerstone of Recreation Strategy - 20 Jun 2008
A recreational plan that offers a comprehensive range of outdoor pursuits for Palmerston North people at their backdoor is now available for consultation. (Palmerston North City Council, NZ)

Sport and Recreation and Community Building - Jun 2008
A literature review which includes government strategy documents, research into the impacts of sport on community building and cohesion, details of programs and approaches to promote the role of sport in this context, and evaluations of such programs. (NSW Sport and Recreation, Australia)

One size doesn't fit all in health promotion - 10 Jun 2008
Current health campaigns telling people to exercise are missing their mark when it comes to people of a low socio-economic background, a Queensland University of Technology researcher has found. (Queensland University of Technology, Australia)

Walk your way to a healthier lifestyle - 18 Jun 2008
A new study shows that a variety of interventions designed to promote walking can effectively motivate individuals to initiate walking behaviors. The results of the review are published in the July issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. (eScience News)

NICE public health guidance: Promoting physical activity in the workplace - 28 May 2008
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued public health guidance for promoting physical activity in the workplace. (NICE, UK)

DeLLITE Depression in late life: an intervention trial of exercise. Design and recruitment of a randomised controlled trial - 24 May 2008
The Depression in Late Life: an Intervention Trial of Exercise (DeLLITE) is a 12 month randomised controlled trial of a physical activity intervention to increase functional status in people aged 75 years and older with depressive symptoms. (BMC Geriatrics)

Healthy Doctors Can Equal Healthy Patients - 29 May 2008
Medical school appears to be the perfect venue to teach future doctors about the benefits of physical activity, and encourage them to "prescribe" to patients, according to a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's 55th Annual Meeting. (Medical News Today)

Exercise 'prevents and treats' cancer - 28 May 2008
Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways of reducing risk of preventable disease "Men who take regular exercise are less likely to die from cancer than those who do none", The Daily Telegraph reported today. Dr N. Orsini and colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA carried out the research. (NHS, UK)

Living longer healthier lives through increased physical activity - 21 Jun 2008
In the second of two podcasts recorded recently at the Second International Conference on Physical Activity and Public Health (ICPAPH) in Amsterdam, EUFIC spoke with Professors Nick Wareham and Ken Fox about the important part that physical activity can play in reducing the risk of chronic diseases and increasing mental well-being. PODCASTS (European Food Information Council)

Targeting physical activity promotion in general practice: Characteristics of inactive patients and willingness to change - 22 May 2008
The objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics of physically inactive adults visiting GPs and the factors associated with their willingness to change PA. (BMC Public Health)

Promoting Physical Activity With A Public Health Approach - 30 May 2008
Nearly 50 percent of Americans are not active enough for optimal health and disease prevention. Barbara E. Ainsworth who delivered a President's Lecture at the 55th American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, believes the answer to increasing physical activity is coordinated, integrated and funded steps targeted to the general public. (Medical News Today)

Physical activity as a possible mechanism behind the relationship between green space and health: a multilevel analysis - 10 Jun 2008
The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical activity (in general, and more specifically, walking and cycling during leisure time and for commuting purposes, sports and gardening) is an underlying mechanism in the relationship between the amount of green space in people's direct living environment and self-perceived health. (BMc Public Health)

Estimates of adherence and error analysis of physical activity data collected via accelerometry in a large study of free-living adults - 9 Jun 2008
Adherence estimates were generated from a pool of 524 women and men that wore AMs for 13 - 15 consecutive days. To simulate the effect of data loss due to AM removal, a reference dataset was first compiled from a subset consisting of 35 highly adherent subjects. (BMC Medical Research Methodology)

Validity and repeatability of the EPIC physical activity questionnaire: a validation study using accelerometers as an objective measure - 2 Jun 2008
The aim of this study was to examine the validity and long-term repeatability of total physical activity measurements estimated from the past-year recall EPIC questionnaire, using accelerometers as an objective reference measure. (International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)

Canada's Overall Grade 2008: D - Jun 2008
Canada's Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth for 2008 is the fourth annual overview of key indicators in relation to the physical activity levels of Canada's young people.  While the Report Card is again a comprehensive overview of issues, this year the focus is on screen time and physical activity. (Active Healthy Kids Canada)

Worldwide variability in physical inactivity: A 51-country survey - Jun 2008
Commentary of the paper from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine which presents data on the prevalence of physical inactivity for 51 countries across the world, for different age groups and settings across these countries. (Australian Heart Foundation)

Focus on Secondary Condition Prevention: Developing a community-based exercise program as a way to prevent secondary conditions in people with Down syndrome - 17 Jun 2008
Deconditioning is a common secondary condition for people with Down Syndrome, and physical activity can provide many health benefits that include increased cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. (The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, US)

Infrastructure

New Fitness Trail Opens at Revamped Karori Park - 28 May 2008
Users of Karori Park can now improve their strength and fitness on exercise equipment installed on a fitness trial around the park, courtesy of the Karori Primary Health Organisation (PHO). (Wellington City Council, NZ)

Draft walking and cycling strategy - 27 May 2008
A draft strategy that will help the Queenstown Lakes District plan for future walking and cycling improvements in its communities is now available for feedback. (Queensland Lakes District Council, NZ)

Cycling: Getting Australia Moving: Barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling - Jan 2008
This report has been developed to assist practitioners, policy makers and planners to increase adult physical activity levels through bicycle riding. (Cycling Promotion Fund, Australia)

Access to Destinations: How Close is Close Enough? Estimating Accurate Distance Decay Functions for Multiple Modes and Different Purposes - May 2008
This research makes use of available travel survey data for the Twin Cities region. A primary outcome of this research is to examine different types of destinations and accurately estimate distance decay models for auto and non-auto travel modes. (University of Minnesota, US)

Public space lessons - Land in limbo: making the best use of vacant urban spaces - Jun 2008
Councils are recognising that both temporary and permanent green open spaces have a valuable role to play in delivering environmental protection, nature conservation and healthy recreation. (CABE, UK)

Young People

The Value of Downtime for Children - Jun 2008
No one could have predicted there would ever be a need to defend play for kids. Even a decade or so ago, the idea of campaigning for rest and downtime for children would have seemed ludicrous. But things have changed - and not just a little, but in an opposite-end-of-the-spectrum way. (Moving and Learning)

Non-Competitive Play Leads To More Physical Activity In Children - 3 Jun 2008
A study presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine has shown that the structuring of children's games has a significant effect on energy expenditure. (Medical News Today)

Active pupils fit for better grades - 12 Jun 2008
New Ontario research shows schools that push fitness and nutrition have watched their standardized scores rise by as much as 50 per cent over two years in Grade 3 reading and 39 per cent in Grade 3 math – outscoring other schools in similar neighbourhoods by about eight points across all three subjects. (Recreation NB)

Investment in Safe Routes to School Projects: Public Health Benefits for the Larger Community - Jul 2008
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is designed to encourage active and safe transportation for children to school. This report examines the potential broader impact of these programs on communities within 0.5 mile (0.8 km) of schools. (Preventing Chronic Disease, CDC)

'Bike it': Project Review 2008 - May 2008
'Bike It' is an initiative that works directly with schools interested in increasing pupils' cycling levels through a 'Bike It' officer. This review examined the impact of 'Bike It' on cycling between 2006-07. (Sustrans, UK)

Backseat Children: how our car dependent culture compromises safety on our streets - May 2008
This Living Streets report details the results of qualitative school travel research undertaken in 2007, across four UK schools. (Living Streets, UK)

Most Irish kids not getting enough exercise - 16 Jun 2008
Just three in 10 children in Ireland take part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day – the minimum recommended amount, new research has shown. (Irish Health)

Using GPS-enabled cell phones to track the travel patterns of adolescents - 21 May 2008
In this study the feasibility of using GPS-enabled cell phones to track adolescent travel patterns and gather daily diary data was assessed. (International Journal of Health Geographics)

Cross-cultural, age and gender validation of a computerised questionnaire measuring personal, social and environmental associations with children's physical activity: the European Youth Heart Study - 19 May 2008
This study investigated the construct validity of a computerised self-assessment tool to measure psychological, social and environmental influences of young peoples' physical activity. (International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)

The dance review: a report to government on dance education and youth dance in England - Jun 2007
A review of the role youth dance and dance education plays in the UK. (Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK)

Child Protection Legislation and Volunteering in Scottish Sport - 11 Jun 2008
This paper reports on research commissioned by SportScotland in partnership with CHILDREN 1ST and the Scottish Sports Association to investigate the effects of child protection issues on volunteering with children and young people in sport. (Sport Scotland)

Useful Weblinks

Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games Website Launched
The new Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml) was officially launched during a ceremony in Beijing, attended by Tang Xiaoquan, Vice-President of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) and Executive Vice-President of BOCOG. (International Paralympic Committee)

Guide to updated resources on Netball NZ website
Here's a handy guide to recently updated resources on the Netball New Zealand website. (Netball NZ)

About Relay

Note the intention of Relay is to include a broad range of opinions. Not all of these are supported or endorsed by SPARC or reflective of SPARC policy. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented here, but we are not responsible for the content of external websites.

How to subscribe to Relay

To subscribe to this newsletter email info@sparc.org.nz.

Updated | 30 Jun 2008.

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