Relay - 11 November 2009
High Performance Sport
Indian Government increases Commonwealth Games budget - 6 Nov 2009
India has doubled its budget to organise the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year as it hopes to use the international gathering to show itself off as a major global destination. (Sports City)
Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay to Visit 11 Communities - 6 Nov 2009
Nine more Canadian communities will celebrate the endless possibilities of the human spirit and the awe-inspiring stories of Paralympic athletes when they welcome the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay, starting on 3 March 2010 in the nation’s capital. (International Paralympic Committee)
Rogge praises 'master plan' in keeping 2012 preparations on track - 30 Oct 2009
On the eve of the 1,000-day countdown to the London Olympics, the organisers have been given a glowing appraisal by Jacques Rogge, president of the IOC. (Sports City)
London 2012 providing UK-wide business opportunities - 5 Nov 2009
An Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) 'building for 2012' map shows a snapshot of around 1,500 companies spread across the UK already supplying goods and services to the for the venues and infrastructure needed for the London 2012 Games. (London 2012)
Structure of first Olympic Village residential block complete - 30 Oct 2009
The first of the 11 residential blocks within the London 2012 Olympic Village has been structurally completed. The announcement came on the eve of 1,000 days to go to the Olympic Games. (London 2012)
Successful Conclusion To Rio 2016 Orientation Seminar - 1 Nov 2009
Less than a month after Rio de Janeiro's election as the host of the 2016 Olympic Games, a delegation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has paid the new host city a visit, as it continues to lay the groundwork for successful Games. (The Olympic Movement)
Sports Development
Valerie Vili a finalist for the 2009 World Athlete of the Year Award - 11 Nov 2009
New Zealand's world shot put champion Valerie Vili has been shortlisted for the 2009 World Athlete of the Year award. (Athletics NZ)
Squash New Zealand CEO Announced - 3 Nov 2009
Squash New Zealand announces Jim O'Grady as its' new Chief Executive. O'Grady takes up the Squash New Zealand Chief Executive position from November 30th. (Squash NZ)
John Bongard joins Netball New Zealand Board - 3 Nov 2009
Netball New Zealand announced today the appointment of former Fisher and Paykel Managing Director and Chief Executive John Bongard to the Netball New Zealand Board. (Netball NZ)
Boosting women's cricket within New Zealand - 3 Nov 2009
Last week White Ferns players Sara McGlashan and Rachel Priest hit the road in the North Island to boost the profile of womens cricket within New Zealand. (NZ Cricket)
Group steers way for community involvement in Rugby World Cup 2011 - 3 Nov 2009
A seven-member steering group has been appointed by Nelson City Council to engage community and business involvement in Rugby World Cup 2011. (Nelson City Council, NZ)
The Black Sox will get a shot at regaining their world softball title on home soil - 27 Oct 2009
The International Softball Federation (ISF) has awarded the 2013 men's world championships to North Harbour's Rosedale ballpark at Albany. (Softball NZ)
The NZ Non-Profit Sector and Government Policy - Aug 2009
This publication examines the relationship between the non-profit sector and government, and the public policy environment in which the sector operates in Aotearoa. (Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector, NZ)
Active Club Grants: A practical way to support more Victorians to get active - Oct 2009
To assess the value of the Active Club Grants in Victoria, funded organisations were surveyed about the outcomes of their activity and in 2009 VicHealth undertook a case study evaluation to determine the impact of the grants at the local level. (VicHealth, Australia)
Olympic Congress puts priority on youth and athletes - Oct 2009
The XIII Olympic Congress hosted in Copenhagen recently approved a set of recommendations with a strong focus on youth and athletes, declaring that "youth and athletes are equally at the heart of the Olympic Movement." (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norway)
SportScotland splashes out 5.5 million pounds on Scotland's sporting future - 3 Nov 2009
Scotland's Sports Minister and Chair of SportScotland today announced 5.5 million pounds of investment in sports facilities for Tayside and Fife as part of the Government's drive to increase participation, improve performance and deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. (Sport Scotland)
Scientists call for ban on alcohol-industry sponsorship of sport - 10 Nov 2009
The alcohol industry's sponsorship of sport should be banned and replaced with a dedicated alcohol tax modelled on those employed by some countries for tobacco, say scientists. (University of Manchester, UK)
WADA Publishes Revised International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions - 2 Nov 2009
Following approval by its Executive Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has now published the revised International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). This Standard will take effect on January 1, 2010. (WADA)
eStadium Application Brings Multimedia Sports Features to Smartphones - 6 Nov 2009
The Arbutus Center for the Integration of Research and Education, is unveiling a new application that allows fans sitting in the stands of an athletic event to access video replays, up-to-the-second statistics, player bios, play-by-play analysis and a wealth of other information. (Newswise)
Sports Science, Medicine and Coaching
New Australian Sports Commission (ASC) online tools and resources for coaches and officials - 2 Nov 2009
The ASC has produced eight new coaching and officiating videos which are now available on the ASC website. In addition, a number of videos previously only available for sale have been placed on the website for viewing. (Australian Sports Commission)
Intervals, Thresholds, and Long Slow Distance: the Role of Intensity and Duration in Endurance Training - 9 Nov 2009
Research on the impact of interval and continuous training with untrained to moderately trained subjects does not support the current interval craze, but the evidence does suggest that short intense training bouts and longer continuous exercise sessions should both be a part of effective endurance training. (Sportscience)
Train less and be faster - 3 Nov 2009
In a recent scientific study just published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Bangsbo and co-workers demonstrate that by reducing the volume of training by 25% and introducing the so-called speed endurance training (6-12 30-s sprint runs 3-4 times a week), endurance trained runners can improve not only short-term but also long-term performance. (AlphaGalileo, Europe)
Super Speedy Elite Sprinters With Short Heels - 2 Nov 2009
When asked by a sprinting athlete to find out how he could improve his technique and training regime, Stephen Piazza decided to focus on the athlete's ankles to try to discover what gives elite sprinters the edge over ordinary mortals. He recently published his findings in The Journal of Experimental Biology. (Medical News Today)
Top 10 Nutritional Mistakes Made by Athletes - 9 Nov 2009
Athletes regularly refine and revise their training programmes and plans in order to fully maximise training adaptations and improve their performance, however some make crucial mistakes with their nutritional choices and eating patterns which can often reduce the benefits this can bring. (English Institute of Sport)
Sugar and Athletes - Sep/Oct 2009
What does the healthy athlete need to know and do about sugar consumption in order to stay healthy while maximizing performance? (NSCA's Performance Training Journal, US)
For Building Muscle, Moderate Amounts Of Protein Per Meal Recommended - 28 Oct 2009
For thousands of years, people have believed that eating large amounts of protein made it easier to build bigger, stronger muscles. A recent study by metabolism researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch however, provides evidence that strongly contradicts this ancient tradition. (Medical News Today)
New Technology Will Help Improve Athletes' Performance - 28 Oct 2009
EPSRC funded scientists are developing a range of miniaturised wearable and track-side sensors, computer modelling tools and smart training devices to help British athletes improve their performance. (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK)
Progressive Sports Technologies help Speedo develop the LZR Racer triathlon suit - 27 Oct 2009
Progressive Sports Technologies, a Loughborough University spinout company, has helped Speedo to develop a world-class triathlon suit. (Loughborough University, UK)
Goal line technology in football put on hold - 30 Oct 2009
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that presides over the sport's laws, decided last week to close discussions about the implementation of goal line technology until its March 2011 AGM in Wales. (Sport Business International)
New Study Further Disputes Notion That Amputee Runners Gain Advantage From Protheses - 5 Nov 2009
A study by six researchers, including a University of Colorado at Boulder associate professor and his former doctoral student, shows that amputees who use running-specific prosthetic legs have no performance advantage over counterparts who use their biological legs. (Medical News Today)
Active Communities
Global positioning system: a new opportunity in physical activity measurement - 4 Nov 2009
This paper 1) reviews the extant literature on the application of GPS to monitor human movement, with a particular emphasis on free-living physical activity, 2) discusses issues associated with GPS use, and 3) provides recommendations for future research. NZ STUDY (International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)
The Healthy Steps Study: A randomized controlled trial of a pedometer-based Green Prescription for older adults: Trial protocol - 1 Nov 2009
The Healthy Steps study is a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a pedometer-based Green Prescription with the conventional time-based Green Prescription in increasing and maintaining physical activity levels in low-active adults over 65 years of age. NZ STUDY (BMC Public Health)
ACSM Survey Predicts 2010 Fitness Trends - 5 Nov 2009
A lasting trend is developing in health and fitness, according to an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) survey. The importance of experienced and educated fitness professionals remains the top predicted fitness trend for the third straight year. (ACSM)
Too Much TV Time Bad for Muscular Fitness - 2 Nov 2009
Obesity isn't the only negative side effect of excessive television watching. A new study from the American College of Sports Medicine suggests that young adults who tune in to two hours or more of TV per day have poor muscular fitness. (ACSM)
Passive work means less activity off the job, too - 6 Nov 2009
Do you have an unchallenging job with little control over what you do? If you do, you may be more likely to be a couch potato in your leisure time, a new study shows. (Reuters Health)
On-the-job exercise good for employee and employer - 28 Oct 2009
Programs in the workplace designed to get people to exercise can improve fitness, cut cholesterol levels, reduce job stress and even improve attendance, a new analysis of the medical literature shows. (Reuters Health)
Supporting the Physical Activity Needs of Women of Low Socio-economic Status - Oct 2009
Women in disadvantaged circumstances—including immigrant women, multicultural women, low-income women, and single-parent mothers—report that they do not receive enough information about local opportunities for physical activities and sport? (WellSpring, Alberta Centre for Active Living, Canada)
Simple Steps Get Walkers Moving - 6 Nov 2009
Simple measures such as starting a walking group or creating pedestrian-friendly routes can encourage people to walk more, a new study has found. (HealthDay News)
Affordable Access to Recreation for Ontarians: Policy Framework. Everyone Plays - Oct 2009
A provincial framework that draws on a growing body of work that documents the health, social and economic benefits that affordable access to recreation can provide. (Parks and Recreation Ontario, Canada)
Exercise Keeps Dangerous Visceral Fat Away a Year After Weight Loss - 28 Oct 2009
A study conducted by exercise physiologists in the University of Alabama at Birmingham, finds that as little as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or resistance training helps not only to prevent weight gain, but also to inhibit a regain of harmful visceral fat one year after weight loss. (Newswise)
Infrastructure
PM turns sod on first cycle trail and unveils brand - 10 Nov 2009
NZ Prime Minister John Key officially launched construction of the first New Zealand Cycle Trail project at Waipa Domain on the banks of the Waikato River today. (beehive.govt.nz)
Waimakariri River Regional Park celebrates three years - 2 Nov 2009
Increasing numbers of Cantabrians are using the Waimakariri River Regional Park thanks to Environment Canterbury's development of the site over the past three years. (Environment Canterbury, NZ)
Westpac Stadium Rated New Zealand's Best Sports Venue - 3 Nov 2009
New Zealand sports fans have rated Wellington's Westpac Stadium as the best venue in New Zealand. Known as the 'cake tin', the Wellington Stadium topped a national survey that also found atmosphere was the most important attribute for sports venues. (Australasian Leisure Management)
Cycle Safety: Reducing the Crash Risk - Oct 2009
A key element of this study is to understand and quantify the safety effect of cycle lanes, car parking and other improvement measures, such as intersection treatments and flush medians, on cycle safety, particularly on higher volume routes. (NZ Transport Agency)
Active Transportation: Making the Link from Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity - Summer 2009
This Research Brief summarizes the latest peer-reviewed research that demonstrates the potential impact of infrastructure investments and other transportation programs on walking and bicycling for transportation, and on related health outcomes. (Active Living Research, US)
Access to Destinations: Application of Accessibility Measures for Non-Auto Travel Modes - Jul 2009
Incorporating non-automotive travel modes — walking, cycling, and public transit — into transportation plans is a challenge for planners. A new research report discusses the obstacles facing planners and presents ways to overcome them in order to ensure accessibility for non-automotive modes. (University of Minnesota, US)
Young People
'Changing Gear' a programme bringing cycling opportunities to young people - 6 Nov 2009
'Changing Gear' is an Upper Hutt programme which was launched in April 2007. It introduces 11-18 year olds to cycle training, opening diverse opportunities to learn skills and develop fitness, plus compete on the regional and national stage. (SPARC website)
Greater Risk For Injury In Young Tennis Players Who Play Only 1 Sport - 9 Nov 2009
Gifted young athletes are under increasing pressure to play only one sport year round. But a new Loyola University Health System study of 519 junior tennis players has found that such specialization increases the risk of injury. (Medical News Today)
Stressing: Understanding and Coping with Acute Stress in Adolescents Athletes Competing in Team Sports - Fall 2009
Even though acute stressors can be found at every level of competition, they may be more visible at the youth sports level. These younger athletes have yet to learn, due to their age and lack of life experience, proper coping strategies. (The Sports Digest, US Sports Academy)
Study Shows Overwhelming Parent Support for Healthier Schools - 28 Oct 2009
The vast majority of parents want schools to limit students' access to high-calorie foods and to offer them opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, a new survey by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation shows. (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, US)
Flip flops, dress clothes, and no coat: clothing barriers to children's physical activity in child-care centers identified from a qualitative study - 6 Nov 2009
This study was undertaken to explore reasons why physical activity levels may vary. The purpose of this paper is to summarize an unexpected finding that child-care providers cited was a key barrier to children's physical activity. (International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)
Physical Education Key To Improving Health In Low-Income Adolescents - 6 Nov 2009
School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley. (Medical News Today)
"Caution! Kids at Play?" Unstructured Time Use among Children and Adolescents - Oct 2009
Children's free play is recognised as an essential component of childhood which supports a multitude of learning and social opportunities. This paper looks at the allocation and purpose of unstructured time for children and adolescents. (Vanier Institute of the Family, Canada)
Useful Weblinks
NZ Government datasets online
This is a directory of publicly-available New Zealand government datasets. The site focuses on machine-readable (ie, well-structured and open) datasets, but recognises that "grey" data (for example, web pages) can still be of use to developers and others. The site is a pilot and will be reviewed in June 2010.
World's most beautiful eco-friendly sports stadiums
Sustainability is one of the top priorities these days in the field of architecture. Architects from all around the world are coming up with highly engineered structures combined with many sustainable features, and sports stadiums are no exception.
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 relay@researchnz.com.
Updated | 26 Nov 2009.
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