Parks and green spaces given opportunity to contribute to the London 2012 Games legacy

After Love Parks Week Community Games are granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme

Love Parks Week has been granted the London 2012 Inspire mark which recognises outstanding projects and events helping deliver the Games’ lasting legacy. The London 2012 Inspire programme enables non-commercial organisations across the UK to link their events and projects to the London 2012 Games in an official scope. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As a part of the Inspire programme this year Love Parks Week will include the option for event organisers to run London 2012-themed Community Games. These free Community Games are a way of bringing the fun and excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to cities and towns across the UK. These games are to be hosted in parks and green spaces as a part of Love Parks Week 2012 and will allow organisers to use the prestigious Inspire brand.

These Community Games will also promote the lasting environmental and community benefits of our nation’s parks and green spaces. Tess Stackley, Campaign Manager said “Working with the Inspire programme gives us a great platform to highlight how our parks and green spaces can provide everyone with a place for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. We envision people who come to these Community Games will return to their parks with their friends, family or on their own to stay active, take up a new sport and get the proven health benefits from spending time outdoors.”

Seb Coe, Chair of the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like Love Parks Week are enabling people who work in and enjoy spending time in their parks to make positive changes in their surrounding area.”

In addition to educating the public about the benefits of green spaces for individual health and social development, these Community Games will help to deliver a sustainable Olympic Games by bringing some of the fun and excitement to towns and villages across the UK. Instead of traveling into London to feel as though they are a part of the 2012 Olympics, people will be able to celebrate the build up to the opening ceremony in their local park or green space during Love Parks Week.

Park facts for health:

1. The difference in the weight gained for children living near green and non-green areas was 5.1kg for girls aged 16 years and 5.9kg for boys.

2. Populations exposed to the greenest environments have the lowest levels of health inequality.

3. Children living close to busy roads are more at risk for respiratory illness, including asthma.

4. Access to quality green space decreases a person’s blood pressure, cholesterol and stress, while increasing their ability to face problems and become involved in social activities.

5. Daily gardening reduces the likelihood of developing dementia by 36%.

Love Parks Week is organised by parks charity GreenSpace. GreenSpace is a registered charity which works to improve parks and green spaces by raising awareness, involving communities and creating skilled professionals. For more information: www.green-space.org.uk.