The object of this study is to contribute to health and welfare of residents by promoting life-time sports, and more specifically, this study aims to examine and analyze the current conditions of life-time sports participation, facility, and programs ...
The object of this study is to contribute to health and welfare of residents by promoting life-time sports, and more specifically, this study aims to examine and analyze the current conditions of life-time sports participation, facility, and programs based on theoretical investigation so as to satisfy the expectation and present improvement plans. Ultimately, by providing data and information needed to promote life-time sports, this study presents the plans to improve the quality of national life.
As for study methods, the preliminary study and documents on life-time sports were examined for theoretical investigation and logical development of this study based on practical experience such as life-time sports policy and on-site participation. As for document study, documental data in the National Assembly, university libraries, and Korea Institute of Sport Science, as well as promotion data, periodical publications, seminar materials, and home-pages of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation, Korea Institute of Sport Science, the National Council of Sport for All, etc. were referred to. Regarding the national conditions of life-time sports, mainly data from Ministry of Culture and Tourism were examined.
By means of the study methods above, the following conclusions were drawn:
First, since those who are alienated from life-time sports have low confident in physical activity due to the unsatisfactory physical ability and condition, uncompetitive programs and additional services inducing their participation should be provided so that they can enjoy life-time sports with interests in daily life.
Second, for youths, who are in the most important period of time in life, but should suffer in examination hell without enjoying physical activity as they want, systematical arrangements for participation in sports and sound leisure activity should be presented to promote the cultivation of desirable personalities.
Third, as for workplace clubs for life-time sports, running costs and activity expenses should be supported, and programs suitable for the actual conditions should be run to promote workplace physical activity and lively corporative culture.
Next, the necessity of improving regulations and systems related to life-time sports are required.
First, facilities for physical activity in life-time sports related organizations should be established and managed in accordance with physical activity related regulations. Related regulations should be revised so that such organizations can secure the right to operate facilities for physical activity so that they can play their part in the local community. Besides, policies related to physical activity of the disabled should be separate from national life-time sports and promoted by Ministry of Health & Welfare so that physical activity of the disabled can be included in national physical activity policies to solve the problem of alienation of the disabled in this regard.
Second, since the loss in terms of finance and time due to injury that frequently happens during sports activity cannot be ignored, a proper sports deductible insurance system should be established to reduce psychological burdens in this respect.
Third, the current training system of life-time sports leaders should be changed from the vertical hierarchy to horizontal expansion, and the certificate related system as well should be improved by limiting the effective period that is currently permanent and extending the period through training courses so as to develop abilities of leaders.
Next, the expansion and efficient management of life-time sports facility are needed.
First, facilities that everyone can easily use such as life-time sports park, national physical activity center including swimming pools, farmer/fisherman culture & physical activity center, gate-ball field, local physical activity facilities, and so forth should be expanded.
Second, life-time sports related groups or local sports clubs should be entrusted to manage existing physical activity facilities so as to secure profitability and improve the usability.
Third, since school facility is hard for residents to utilize even though it is the major local facility for physical activity, the local government where the facility is located, and physical activity related groups should fund a part of business costs so that residents can use such facility anytime they want.
Lastly, local governments should strengthen administrative and financial support for life-time sports activity to promote the atmosphere and voluntary participation in life-time sports.
First, to attract more members of life-time sports clubs, local governments should perform actively administrative and financial support. For example, administrative consideration for organizing clubs of each sports event, holding of various competitions to induce club activity, financial support for competitions and club activity, support for utilization of public/school/private facilities for physical activity can motivate club members to participate in life-time sports.
Second, interesting programs suitable for the local condition should be developed and distributed. For example, various programs in which majority of residents can participate such as environment-friendly program, occupation/work environment specified program, special facility-centered program, and programs for the disabled/agricultural district/fishing village should be developed to draw interests of participants.
Third, reconsideration of health and the importance of life-time sports activity should be promoted among people so that physical activity can be a part of daily life. For this, the rates of life-time sports participation should be heightened in such ways as issuing of life-time sports related magazines, public advertisement through promotion media, nationwide life-time sports campaign, etc.
Plans to promote life-time sports have been considered so far. Life-time sports should be considered in terms of production and investment, not consumption so that the whole nation can enjoy the right to participate in life-time sports regardless of social position, class, economic condition, gender, and age. Therefore, effect should be taken for better conditions and expansion of participation opportunities, and nationwide campaign of 'One Sport for One Individual,' and all should collect their wisdom to improve of quality of national life.