[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Kim Tae-jin, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council (Progressive Party), proposed a policy to revitalize community sports through “visiting gyms and other facilities.”
Based on the 2020 National Community Sports Survey results recently announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Councilor Kim argued that the participation rate in community sports dropped by 6.5%, from 66.6% in 2019 to 60.1% in 2020, claiming that COVID-19 restrictions on the use of community sports facilities threaten the health rights of district residents.
Looking at the data surveyed from 9,000 citizens aged 10 and older, the participation rate in community sports, which had steadily increased by an average of 3.7% annually since 2017, sharply declined in 2020.
Among respondents, 56.9% cited “lack of time for physical activity,” followed by 36.1% citing “poor accessibility to sports facilities,” and 36% citing “impact of COVID-19” as reasons.
Councilor Kim mentioned excellent cases of various community sports activities such as the “New Sports Program with Seniors” currently underway at Sinam Neighborhood Park in Pungam-dong, as well as shuffleboard, mini table tennis, mini golf, and hookball in Seoul, stating, “We must expand the operation of new sports programs that anyone can easily participate in during lunch breaks for office workers who lack exercise time, to ensure the healthy and happy lives of Seo-gu residents.”
Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho yjm3070@asiae.co.kr
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