On the 23rd of November, Manchester based charity Greater Sport launched its latest strategy aiming to get a further 2 million local residents more active. The scheme came in response to Sport England releasing a damning survey displaying the high levels of inactivity across the ten areas of Greater Manchester.
Greater Sport’s proposal is undoubtedly necessary yet such an idea can only be successful with the help of inspiring volunteers and community leaders who will happily energize and motivate others to adapt to a more active lifestyle. Asif Omar has all of these qualities in abundance. Working with the University of Salford, Omar is consistently rousing more young people into exercise, a vital cause as those aged 16-25 are considered as one of the most lethargic age groups.
Omar has been revolutionary since becoming Salford Union’s Give Sport A Go Coordinator last month.
“I’m responsible for the development of sports participation on campus. Basically, I run our Campus Leagues programme, allowing students to participate in semi-competitive sport as well as our Give Sport A Go programme.”
And it is this Give Sport A Go initiative that has been so successful in raising the health levels of local University students.
“Give Sport A Go has a different approach to participation in sport, we put on drop in weekly sessions with absolutely no commitment to continue participating,” adds Omar. “Our sessions provide a non-competitive and relaxed environment to participate in whatever your ability.”
But Omar’s pride and joy is the additional events he organises, most recently two indoor football tournaments accessible to all abilities.
On the days of both tournaments there was a buzz in the atmosphere at the University of Salford sports centre. The competitions were overwhelmingly successful, Omar’s house music erupting from a large speaker as eight 5-a-side teams vied for the top spot.
“What we want is for people to come along, have a go and then say, ‘I really enjoy playing this’ that way when we start up an indoor football league in January the people here will be the first to sign up and will start to play more sport regularly.”
And enjoy it they did, the proof is in the pudding as nearly all those taking part committed to taking on the sport further after Christmas. Omar’s solitary tournament has spawned an entire campus league.
The 24-year-old’s work is vitally important, his events are motivating students into leading healthier lifestyles. But it is not just physical benefits that his approach brings. In 2014, researchers at the University of British Columbia unanimously proved that exercise increases brain power, memory and thinking skills, ideal for young academics.
Greater Sport’s new strategy to radically increase Greater Manchester’s sport participation levels may be bold, even unreachable, but it is individuals such as Omar who have taken it upon themselves to inspire others into exercise. His ideas and forward planning have allowed a multitude of young people to take up pastimes that increase both their mental and physical health.
As Greater Sport announces its desire to make 2 million local residents more active, it remains exceedingly clear that such a ballpark figure can only be achieved through the relentless work of citizens like Asif Omar.
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