Relay - 29 October 2009
High Performance Sport
Commonwealth Sport Briefing on Delhi - 22 Oct 2009
Having returned from the 2010 Commonwealth Games host city of Delhi last week, the NZOC assembled Commonwealth Sports recently for a briefing on Games progress. (NZOC)
Queen's Baton Relay set for launch in Buckingham Palace on October 29 - 13 Oct 2009
The Queen's Baton Relay 2010, curtain-raiser to the XIX Commonwealth Games, will be launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she hands over the baton to the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in Buckingham Palace in London on October 29. (Delhi 2010)
Vancouver 2010: Olympic flame lit in Olympia - 22 Oct 2009
With only 113 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the Olympic flame was lit today in Olympia, symbolically marking the beginning of the Torch Relay that will bring the flame to the shores of British Columbia. (The Olympic Movement)
VANOC Launches Games-time Website - 19 Oct 2009
With less than four months to go before welcoming an anticipated 60-million unique visitors and 1.6-billion page views, www.vancouver2010.com is getting its Games face on as the international online host for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. (International Paralympic Committee)
Three Applicant Cities for 2018 Winter Games - 16 Oct 2009
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that three cities have been put forward by their respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to apply to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018. The cities, in alphabetical order, are: Annecy (France), Munich (Germany) and PyeongChang (Republic of Korea). (International Paralympic Committee)
Build starts on largest temporary venue on London Olympic Park - 23 Oct 2009
Construction has started on the Basketball Arena - the largest temporary venue built for any Olympic or Paralympic Games. (London 2012)
IOC set to start working in Rio on 2016 Olympics - 27 Oct 2009
After the excitement of bidding and the euphoria of winning, the reality of making the 2016 Olympics happen starts in Rio de Janeiro this week. (Sports City)
Sports Development
New Zealand Cricket appoints new President, Directors - 22 Oct 2009
Long-time Auckland cricket stalwart Denis Currie has been named as the new President of New Zealand Cricket. (NZ Cricket)
BikeNZ Road and Track Junior Development Plan - 19 Oct 2009
The 2009/10 BikeNZ Road and Track Junior Development Plan is now available to Download from their website. (Bike NZ)
NZ National Population Projections: 2009 (base)–2061 - 27 Oct 2009
New Zealand's population aged 65 years and over (65+) is projected to eclipse 1 million in the late 2020s, Statistics New Zealand said today. (Statistics NZ)
Events provide nearly $480m to Auckland's economy - 25 Oct 2009
Auckland events contributed nearly $500 million to the economy last year and sporting events were the most lucrative. (Auckland City Council, NZ)
UN General Assembly Adopts Olympic Truce Resolution - 21 Oct 2009
The UN General Assembly recently adopted the Olympic Truce Resolution for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will take place from 12 to 28 February and from 12 to 21 March 2010 respectively. (International Paralympic Committee)
Why Sport Matters: New Challenges in the Digital Age - Oct 2009
Professor Raymond Boyle from the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at the University of Glasgow gives a talk organised by the Centre for Olympic Studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (CEO-UAB). (Centre for Olympic Studies, Spain)
Sports Science, Medicine and Coaching
Assessing the Importance of Building Self-efficacy to Impact Motivation, Performance Levels, and Team Effectiveness - Fall 2009
The purpose of this paper is to answer a number of questions concerning the impact that leaders may have when building self-efficacy among followers. It will further identify and explore reasons why building self-efficacy is essential. (The Sports Digest, US Sports Academy)
Rugby training: in-season strength and conditioning work - 14 Oct 2009
When analysing a rugby player's needs, it's clear that a well-implemented strength and conditioning programme will be of massive benefit. (Peak Performance)
Comparison of 5km Running Performance after 24 and 72 hours of Passive Recovery - Fall 2009
Recovery from a hard running effort determines when a runner can run at an intense level again. The number of recovery hours needed to sufficiently restore the body back to peak racing condition is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare 5km running performance after 24 hours and 72 hours of recovery. (The Sport Journal, US Sports Academy)
Lower trunk kinematics and muscle activity during different types of tennis serves - 13 Oct 2009
To better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in trunk motion during a tennis serve, this study aimed to examine the (1) relative motion of the middle and lower trunk and (2) lower trunk muscle activity during three different types of tennis serves - flat, topspin, and slice. (Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation, Therapy and Technology)
Touch Your Core With Light Load/High Velocity Resistance Training - Sep/Oct 2009
New research suggests core strength does not significantly contribute to overall strength and power and shouldn't be the main focus of a workout programme. (NSCA's Performance Training Journal, US)
Watch Your Bodymechanics - Sep/Oct 2009
Explore the effects, both positive and negative, of proper or improper mechanical loading of the body's tissues. (NSCA's Performance Training Journal, US)
Sports technology: running shoes should be designed according to gender - 13 Oct 2009
It doesn't take a scientist, sports or other, to tell you that men and women are different. However, it was really only recently that kit manufacturers noticed this difference in the area of sports shoe design. (Peak Performance)
High Tech for Bicycles - 21 Oct 2009
Carbon fiber composite materials (CFRP's) not only make cars and airplanes lightweight but also benefit the light weight constructions for valuable bicycle concepts. (AlphaGalileo, Europe)
Increased success a 'virtual' certainty for rugby players - 14 Oct 2009
Team members from Ulster Rugby have been working with researchers in the School of Psychology at Queen's on a range of virtual training scenarios that test expert players' perceptual skills. (AlphaGalileo, Europe)
Active Communities
Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2009 - 23 Oct 2009
This publication presents a statistical overview of sports and physical recreation in Australia. The information is drawn from a variety of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data sources. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Adult participation in 30 minutes, moderate intensity sport: National (England), by key demographic subgroups - 30 Sep 2009
A spreadsheet showing results from the latest 12 month period, July 2008-July 2009, focussing on the 3x30 sports indicator, by key demographic subgroups for England, and overall for regions, counties and districts. (Sport England)
Comprehensive physical activity and food recommendations published - 19 Oct 2009
Comprehensive recommendations to increase physical activity and improve food security have been made by a University of Otago and University of Auckland research consortium. (University of Otago, NZ)
Experts Applaud Physical Activity Guidelines Bill - 21 Oct 2009
Scientists, physicians, public health experts and others have rallied in favor of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Act of 2009. The measure provides that the Department of Health and Human Services update federal physical activity guidelines at least every five years. (ACSM)
How to Engage Inactive communities in Physical Activity: Top tips from the BHFNC 8th Annual Conference - 13 Oct 2009
This booklet provides practical tips for engaging inactive communities in physical activity. The ideas presented here were put forward by delegates and the workshop facilitators during the workshop discussions at the BHFNC Annual Conference. (British Heart Foundation National Centre)
Exercise eases fatigue in cancer patients on chemo - 15 Oct 2009
Exercise can reduce the often debilitating fatigue that cancer patients experience during chemotherapy, new research shows. (Reuters Health)
Aerobic exercise no big stretch for older adults but helps elasticity of arteries - 25 Oct 2009
Just 3 months of physical activity reaps heart health benefits for older adults with type 2 diabetes by improving the elasticity in their arteries - reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, Dr. Kenneth Madden told the 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. (Canada Newswire)
Fitness Fades Fast After 45 - 26 Oct 2009
The declines in fitness that accompany growing old typically speed up after the age of 45, new research shows. But people can slow the inevitable by staying lean, exercising and refraining from smoking. (HealthDay News)
Infrastructure
Work about to begin on Norman Kirk Memorial Pool - 21 Oct 2009
Manukau City Council has approved the contract for construction services for the new aquatic facilities at the Norman Kirk Memorial Pool in the Otara Leisure Centre. Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd has won the contract and work will start early next month, with completion scheduled for the end of September 2010. (Manukau City Council, NZ)
It is the season to be cycling - 21 Oct 2009
This year's Season of Cycling has officially started and is being launched with a new tool to help encourage everyone to get on their bike and try out a new ride. (Christchurch City Council, NZ)
Planning and Design Guidelines for Active Living - Oct 2009
PCAL has updated its "Planning and Design Guidelines" with the inclusion of workplace environment and related updated resources. The workplace guidelines focus on journey to work issues while the updated resources provide key references relating to many different areas. (Premier's Council for Active Living (NSW), Australia)
Active Travel: The Role of Self-Selection in Explaining the Effect of Built Environment on Active Travel - Fall 2009
This Research Brief highlights research that shows that creating more traditionally designed communities may lead to increase in active travel and self-selection has a role to play. (Active Living Research, US)
Creating Age Friendly Environments Fact Sheet - Oct 2009
The Council on Ageing (COTA) NSW has produced a fact sheet on the merits of age friendly design. The fact sheet provides a link to existing key resources within the three areas of Transport, Urban Planning and Design and Housing. (Council on Ageing (NSW), Australia)
Helping community groups to improve public spaces - 26 Oct 2009
A summary of research by CABE into the main barriers facing community groups in improving public spaces. This briefing is primarily for local authorities but will be of interest to other public space managers such as housing associations. (CABE, UK)
Green Spaces Boost the Body and the Mind - 15 Oct 2009
The closer you live to nature, the healthier you're likely to be. For instance, people who live within 1 kilometer of a park or wooded area experience less anxiety and depression, Dutch researchers report. (HealthDay News)
Young People
Department for Children, Schools and Families: PE and Sport Survey 2008/09 - Oct 2009
This is the sixth annual UK PE and Sport Survey which is being used to help monitor the Public Service Agreement 22, and to provide a consistent dataset to help understand what progress has been made within partnership ('families' of schools) schools. (Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK)
Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia - 28 Oct 2009
This survey was conducted in April this year and was a repeat of a similar survey conducted in 2000, 2003 and 2006. The survey output will present information about the organised culture and leisure activities in which children aged 5-14 years participate after school hours. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcomes - Feb 2009
This report analyzes several distinct strands of research on the effects on youth of participation in organised sports. (Team-Up For Youth, US)
Positive Youth Development through Physical Activity - 26 Oct 2009
Highly desirable benefits of a physically active lifestyle are mastery of motor and sport-specific skills that contribute to competence in lifelong physical activities and attaining social and psychological life skills. (Sports Research Digest, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports)
Parents determine kids' physical activity - 16 Oct 2009
Parental actions influence the activity levels of children, new research presented at the "Be Active '09" conference held in Brisbane has shown. (Sports Medicine Australia)
New CAAWS Resource Gives "Voice" to Young Women's Experiences - 19 Oct 2009
A new resource from the CAAWS provides direct insight into the experiences of adolescent girls, and recommendations on how to create positive programs and physical activity environments to make a difference in their lives. (Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity)
Objective and perceived availability of physical activity opportunities: differences in associations with physical activity behavior among urban adolescents - 15 Oct 2009
This study examined the associations of the perceived and objective environment with adolescent engagement in sports activities and walking and cycling in leisure time. It also explored the degree of agreement between objective and perceived availability of physical activity (PA) facilities in neighborhoods. (International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)
Get Up and Grow: Healthy eating and physical activity for early childhood - Oct 2009
This 80 page report provides general non-commercial, evidence based information to early childhood education and care settings, to assist in developing healthy habits for children birth to five years. (Department of Health and Ageing, Australia)
Study finds young kids spend almost all their time sitting around - 26 Oct 2009
Preschoolers are spending 85 per cent of their waking hours inactive, a Deakin University study has revealed. (Deakin University, Australia)
Useful Weblinks
Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation Factsheets
WSFF has produced a series of free, downloadable fact-files. These include Sport insight factsheets, a comprehensive analysis of how English women participate, and are involved in, various sports. This resource brings together data from a number of different sources, including Active People and WSFF's own leadership audit. (Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, England)
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
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Updated | 08 Dec 2009.
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