Over 100 older people participated in the first Age Friendly Ireland ‘Sports Taster Day’ at the Sport Ireland Campus, which took place yesterday (26/09/2024) during European Week of Sport 2024. Participants from 14 counties travelled to the Dublin campus to sample 7 activities including Walking Football, Zumba Gold, Fitsticks Activator Poles, Yoga and Seated Volleyball.
This event allowed older people to establish a comfort level with sports stadiums, benefit from peer-to-peer support and on-hand physios and fitness experts and feel encouraged to seek out these kinds of activities in their community.
Speaking on the event, Louise Burke, Sport Ireland’s Director of Participation said: “There are over 830,000 people aged 65+ in Ireland, however, Healthy Ireland data suggests that only 33% of adults aged 65-74 meet physical activity recommendations. The Health Service Executive advises older people to be active for 150 minutes a week. This means at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity, five days a week. Too little physical activity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.”
Ms Burke added: “We recognise the power of sport in bringing together people of all walks of life, and there are many modified versions of traditional sports available which are more accessible to older people, and hopefully older people will feel encouraged to embrace the benefits of a more active lifestyle.”
The event included demonstrations from Exwell Medical who showcased their medical exercise programme for people with chronic conditions; exhibitions from Fitsticks on a programme developed by the Kildare Sports Partnership that uses activator poles to increase aerobic fitness, mobility, strength and balance; and information sessions from Age & Opportunity about their physical activity programmes including walking football.
Addressing the Age Friendly Sports Taster Day, Roscommon Age Friendly Ambassador and Roscommon’s most famous barber, Paddy Joe Burke said: “Today is the greatest day of our life, enjoy the now. Physical activity can improve both mental and physical health in people of all ages and abilities. If the older people enjoying the Sports Taster Day take only one message away with them today, I would hope that it is: It is never too late to start being more active.”
“Being active helps older people to stay mobile and independent; keep bones and muscles strong; keep heart and lungs healthy; improve mood and flexibility; prevent stiffness; help brain function and memory; keep their balance and prevent falls; and even improve social connections!”
The Sport Ireland Campus is accessible for all generations, including people with reduced mobility, with level access throughout, lifts, accessible toilets and changing rooms, and seating for spectators.
Local Sports Partnerships that deliver multiple physical activity opportunities to older people are available in communities nationwide. Contact your local authority for more information or visit https://www.sportireland.ie/participation/local-sports-partnerships
