According to the UK Green Party website the Green Party will try to achieve the following if they gain power at the 2010 general election:
CMS800 Sport can have a very positive influence on the society we live in. Participation in sport improves physical fitness, and sport can help provide a sense of community and can help break down barriers between communities through engaging in friendly competition.
CMS801 There has been a growth in sport as a spectator based entertainment and a diminishment of sport as a means to improve physical health and co-operative behaviours. We see a need for government to encourage and provide support for participation in all sports at local level.
CMS802 National excellence in sport can best arise as a result of a widespread engagement in sporting activity across age, class, race, gender and geography.
CMS803 Any sport that involves the killing or infliction of pain or suffering upon any animal is excluded from this section (see AR411)
Sport Principles
CMS810 There are significant wider social benefits through increased participation in sport; for example health and well-being benefits translate into reduced pressure on the NHS (see H311) and improved green economic performance (see EC310)
CMS811 In line with the principles above, the Green Party believes that there is no place in sport at any level for racism or any other form of discrimination.
CMS812 The Green Party further recognises that sport is one of the main remaining areas of gender discrimination. Women face many barriers (social, cultural, official) to full participation in many sports. This is an equally unacceptable discrimination.
Sport Policy
CMS830 Programmes to combat discrimination should be introduced wherever necessary, with a particular focus on young people.
CMS880 Some sports are specific to small localised areas of the country. For example Cornish Wrestling and Sussex Stoolball. Local authorities should particularly seek to encourage and support such activities both in education and in the community.
I would be interested to hear both positive and negative views on UK Green Party’s Sport policies in the comments below?