Canadians believe community sport can do good, but that unruly parents are a top threat, report finds

RBC Sports Day in Canada gives Canadians from coast to coast the opportunity to encourage and celebrate good sport

TORONTO, Nov. 24, 2014 /CNW/ - New research shows 83 per cent of Canadians believe community sport can instill character in youth by teaching them values and positive life lessons. However, 60 per cent of Canadians see poor parental behavior as a threat to achieving this benefit.

In honour of the fifth annual RBC Sports Day in Canada, True Sport and ParticipACTION release Sport Moves Us:  The State of Community Sport in Canada, 2014 to examine how Canadians feel about community sport: what's working, what's not and how can it be improved. RBC Sports Day in Canada, taking place on November 29, 2014, provides the ideal opportunity for Canadians to participate in a positive sporting experience and celebrate good sport with their families.

"From our local playgrounds, to recreational sport leagues all the way to our inspiring high-performance athletes, sport is vital to the cultural fabric of our nation," says the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport).  "Moreover, it is essential that our children and youth have the opportunity to take part in positive sport experiences in order to grow and understand the benefits of sport. That is why the Government of Canada is proud to support the fifth annual RBC Sports Day in Canada."

The Sport Moves Us report indicates that Canadians strongly value community-level sport, citing numerous benefits it has to offer, including:

• Instilling character in youth by teaching values and positive life lessons (83%).
• Providing opportunities to pursue excellence (80%).
• Strengthening our communities (77%) by helping to reduce crime, supporting newcomers, bringing people together and bolstering the economy.

"RBC Sports Day in Canada encourages participation in local sports programs and highlights the impact that good sport is having on families and communities across the country," says Elio Antunes, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. "Sport is a fundamental part of a healthy, active lifestyle."

However, Canadians feel there are threats to good sport. And, unfortunately, a negative sport experience can turn kids away from sport and physical activity. The following are what Canadians feel are the critical threats to good sport:

• Poor parental behavior (60%)
• Lack of access for some people (48%)
• Violence (48%)

"When community sport is based on the True Sport values of excellence, fairness, inclusion and fun, there are almost no limits to what sport can do," said Karri Dawson, Executive Director of the True Sport Foundation.  "It is every parent, coach, referee and athlete's responsibility to defend and celebrate a positive sporting experience for all, because good sport can make a great difference."

RBC Sports Day in Canada is a national celebration of the power of sport to build community and get Canadians moving.  It caps off a week of more than 1,800 local events and activities, such as community-wide festivals, try-it days, open houses, games, competitions, meet-and-greets, tournaments, fun runs, spectator events and pep rallies, and includes a special broadcast on CBC.

"Children need opportunities to develop confidence and skills through play and sport," said Jane Broderick, Chief Brand and Communications Officer, RBC. "That's why we are behind RBC Sports Day in Canada, which is part of our larger commitment to kids and youth through the RBC Kids Pledge, a five-year, $100 million promise to help one million kids with a wide range of programs."

Get involved!

• Visit cbcsports.ca/sportsday to watch RBC Sports Day stories and videos or search for local events. Elite athletes, politicians, Paralympians and Olympians will be appearing at many RBC Sports Day in Canada events.
• Wear a jersey, team or club uniform to work, school or play on Friday, November 28, to celebrate national Jersey Day and show your love of sport.

Watch it live!
Canadians can also tune in to CBC Television from 2 - 6 p.m. EST to watch RBC Sports Day in Canada unfold. On November 29, CBC will televise a national broadcast event from the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario, hosted by national anchor Scott Russell. Russell will profile inspiring stories about how sport has impacted people, young and old, elite and just starting out, all across Canada.

About RBC Sports Day in Canada
RBC Sports Day in Canada, on Saturday, November 29, 2014, is a national celebration of the power of sport to build community and get Canadians moving. The official day caps off a week of more than 1,800 local events and includes a special broadcast on CBC. RBC is title sponsor of RBC Sports Day in Canada, presented by ParticipACTION, CBC and True Sport, working in collaboration with national sporting organizations and their networks of coaches, athletes and sports enthusiasts across the country as well as corporate partners, including Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. RBC Sports Day in Canada is generously supported by Sport Canada and in BC through Healthy Families BC. For more information about RBC Sports Day in Canada, please visit: cbcsports.ca/sportsday

SOURCE: ParticipACTION

RBCSportsDayFor a list of other events taking place across the country, please visit cbcsports.ca/sportsday‎. For more information on RBC Sports Day in Canada, for a copy of Sport Moves Us:  The State of Community Sport in Canada, 2014 or to speak to a spokesperson, please contact:

Meaghan Beech
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
W: 416-413-4650
[email protected]

Katherine Janson
ParticipACTION
W: 416-913-1471
M: 647-717-8674
[email protected]