Abstract
The six London Boroughs hosting the Games published plans for legacy in the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF), where their determination to have parity with the rest of London in various aspects of life including healthcare in children were outlined. There is a paucity of evidence to support the notion that hosting an Olympic games leads to an increase in participation in physical or sporting activities for host countries with also little evidence to suggest other health benefits. To date no research has been conducted to see what the perceptions of stakeholders involved in the healthcare of younger children in East London are, in terms of what healthcare legacy has been left from the 2012 Games. The key objectives were to determine what relevant stakeholders in the care of primary school aged children in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets understood by the term ‘healthcare legacy’, and to assess their views on the impact of the Olympics on the children and to provide recommendations on how the health and well being of the children may be improved. A qualitative semi-structured interview study design was used. The Framework Method was used to analyse results. 14 stakeholders (GPs, teachers, paediatric community nurses, councillors, youth centre worker) were interviewed and 10 themes were identified: general awareness of healthcare legacy, pre-Olympic status, funding, education, diet, non-tangible effects of the Olympics, Exercise, Social support, local regeneration and further recommendations. The investigation suggested that the Games did emanate a healthcare legacy of sorts. However the effects were largely transient. The multicultural and low socioeconomic nature of Tower Hamlets has made it difficult to establish a legacy. Future recommendations include education of both parents and children on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Highlights
In terms of knowledge of any specific commitment made by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets towards the health and well being of the local population, most were unaware of such a thing
Nobody had heard of the Strategic Regeneration Framework and there was no knowledge of any formal documentation detailing what plans the six involved boroughs had to implement a healthcare legacy
This study explored the perceptions of relevant stakeholders to see how the 2012 Olympics affected the health and wellbeing of primary school aged children in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets by use of semi-structured interviews
Summary
One of the key factors in London being awarded the Olympics was it’s potential to leave a ‘lasting legacy’. [1] It was thought that the hype that accompanies the Games would herald a renaissance in grass root participation in sports and a positive shift in attitude. [1]A number of ‘lasting legacies’ were formalised by the government of the time to ensure that the Games did leave a long-term beneficial effect on the local community. [2,3,4]Amongst the different legacies that the Government and the British Olympic Association (BOA) promised were a healthcare legacy and a regeneration of the East End of London. [2] It was hoped that the sporting achievements in today’s athletes would lead to an improvement in the health and fitness of tomorrow’s children. One of the key factors in London being awarded the Olympics was it’s potential to leave a ‘lasting legacy’. A number of ‘lasting legacies’ were formalised by the government of the time to ensure that the Games did leave a long-term beneficial effect on the local community. Childhood obesity and inactivity are major issues in our society today, which can lead to long-term adverse health consequences [6,7]. Studies have shown that there are many factors responsible for inactivity and obesity, even a modest school effect has the potential to have a substantial impact on children’s weight status at a population level. [12,13] Schools and physical education teachers in particular are in a unique position to promote health and fitness and the Olympics provided an opportunity to reaffirm their importance [14] Studies have shown that there are many factors responsible for inactivity and obesity, even a modest school effect has the potential to have a substantial impact on children’s weight status at a population level. [12,13] Schools and physical education teachers in particular are in a unique position to promote health and fitness and the Olympics provided an opportunity to reaffirm their importance [14]
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