Healthy debate for the country
RECENTLY it has been heartening to see readers’ contributions on the Letters Pages (June 9, 10, & 11) and articles in the sports section examining the role of sport in Scotland. I accept that it is a complex issue with different factors affecting various sports.
Tennis, as Jamie Murray points out (“Scots tennis authorities ‘are failing’”, Herald Sport, June 11), has failed miserably in capitalising on the success of himself, his brother Andy, Colin Fleming and Elena Baltacha. I would suggest in this case that there are similarities between Tennis Scotland and the Labour Party in Scotland. Both organisations appear to accept their status as branch offices of their London head office.
It seems that almost every year a new strategy is promoted by the LTA, and Tennis Scotland obediently actions it whether it fits with the game in Scotland or not. The underlying strategy appears to be to attempt to build the pyramid of players from the top down. Research has proven time and again that the health benefits of tennis continue throughout life with a corresponding reduction in NHS costs as people age. Why then are so many councils taking down the nets or selling off the land for short-term gain? If children are not encouraged to be healthy and the facilities made available to them then what right have our politicians to criticise the younger generation for being unfit? Perhaps a lot of this is down to our current politicians being the type who hated sport and failed to see any benefit in it when they were growing up.
Kevin Ferrie rightly states that it is time for a national debate on sports spending (“Kids don’t understand sport and roads are like clogged arteries ... it’s just not cricket’”, Herald Sport, June 11). We have a talented and enthusiastic population who would benefit from participating in sport even if they will never win Wimbledon or even want to. We are failing them miserably with our current policies. David Stubley, 22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.