A NEW project will be launched this week to promote physical activity in the over-55s and to make leisure centres less intimidating for this age group.
Mr John Treacy, chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, will launch the Be Active 55 project for the Westport, Newport and Louisburgh areas of Mayo on Thursday. The project is a partnership between the Mayo Sports Partnership, the HSE West and the leisure industry in Co Mayo.
"The idea is to see if leisure centres and health clubs can be made more attractive and friendly places for people over 55 to use," said Mr Treacy.
The Irish Sports Council set up sports partnerships in a number of areas as a pilot scheme in 2001 with the aim of increasing participation in sport and maximising the use of resources, facilities and volunteers on the ground. The target is for a sports partnerships to be located in every local authority area by May.
Charlie Lambert, sports co-ordinator with the Mayo Sports Partnership, explained how the group has three main functions: to provide quality information on the ground about sporting facilities, resources and funding; to provide training and education for sports volunteers and clubs; and to implement a strategic plan for sport in the county.
Former president of the GAA and healthy ageing campaigner Dr Mick Loftus is a member of the strategic plan implementation group.
Mr Lambert says: "Dr Loftus, a GP in Crossmolina, brought up a study carried out between Go For Life and the Irish Sports Council which found that only 15 per cent of those aged 55-plus do enough physical activity, while 58 per cent are sedentary."
He points out that there is a general opinion among older people that leisure centres can be intimidating places that they would not feel comfortable going into. The Be Active 55 project will involve a programme of mobility type activities and "fun and fit" classes specifically aimed at the over-55s.
The project is being launched at 11am on Thursday at the Westport Leisure Park and anybody interested in getting involved is invited to attend.
April 7th marks the start of Come and Try It Week at five leisure centres, which will all offer a special programme of activities. Participants in Be Active 55 will then take part in activities on a weekly basis for seven weeks until the end of May at a minimal cost.
Dr Loftus told a recent meeting of over-55s in Mayo that no medicine could compare with healthy exercise and called on the Government to provide exercise facilities for older people.
The 79-year-old explained that he had taken up running in his 50s and, despite having a pacemaker and arthritis, he ran most nights and felt great afterwards. He said older people let ageism get in the way and they were often more ageist than younger people.
"Most Irish people think it's better not to exert themselves in later life to avoid a heart attack, but more heart attacks are brought about by sitting put. Studies have shown that leading an active life reduces the risks of cancer, stroke, diabetes and premature death," he said.
For further information, contact the Mayo Sports Partnership at 094-9047537 or e-mail: msp@mayococo.ie
