Cyprus Sport Organisation

Study on “Leisure Sport Participation in Cyprus”Dr. Stavros Pouloukas & Christina Loizou

University of Nicosia

Informal Meeting of EU Sport Ministers20 - 21 September 2012

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Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU

Study on “Leisure Sports Participation in Cyprus”

2012

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Identity of the study

• Was commissioned by: The Cyprus Sport Organisation• Contucted by: CLTS - The University of Nicosia• Time Period: January – June 2012

• Objective of the study:To investigate through social research methods, the degree of the

participation of the Cypriot population in leisure sports activities on two levels: mass leisure sports and grassroots sports

• Methods of research:Literature review, Desk Research, Telephone research and Online

research.

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Overview

• Definitions • Methodology• Findings of Telephone Research• Findings of Desk Research• Conclusions• Recommendations

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Definition of Leisure

• The term “Leisure” has two definitions1

a) It refers to one time period of the day for an individual, which is remaining, if the time for work and obligations is subtracted

b) It can also be used to describe an activity that is done based on preference and choice

1Honeybourne J, Hill M.,Moors H. (2002). Advanced Physical Education and Sport for AS-level. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Ltd

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Definition of Sports

• Sports are defined, as all activities that are based on play and can be competitive, cooperative or individual1.

• Leisure Sports include the provision of sports activities for the preservation and improvement of physical condition, health and fun (Council of Europe 2007).

1Mull R.F., Bayless K. G., Jamieson L. M. (2005). Recreational sport management, Volume 1.

Leeds: Human Kinetics

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Definition of Leisure Sports in Cyprus

• There is no official definition by Cyprus Sport Organisation for Leisure Sports.

• However, the generally accepted definition of Leisure Sports by the Organisation is “any kind of physical or body activity which is performed during someone’s leisure time and does not fall into the category of professional sports”.

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Methodology

• Literature review – existing situation in Europe• Desk research – information on policies,

providers, actions and stakeholders• Telephone research – collection of data on the

Cyprus population on the level of Leisure / grassroots sport participation

• Online research – same as telephone research, but online

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Telephone Research

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Population, Sample and sampling Methodology

PopulationPopulation Cypriot MenCypriot Men//WomenWomen aged aged 15+15+

Population SizePopulation Size Approx.Approx. 5 55522,,000000

Sample SizeSample Size 1,1,000000

Sampling MethodologySampling Methodology Stratified Random SamplingStratified Random Sampling

Sample WeightsSample Weights Sample was weighted by gender, age, Sample was weighted by gender, age, district and region of residencedistrict and region of residence

Telephone InterviewsTelephone Interviews MayMay – – JuneJune 2012 2012

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Findings: Participation of Cypriots aged 15+ in leisure sports activities (by gender)

• The general level of participation in Leisure / grassroots sports is 39.8%

• The percentage for the Men is 42.1% as compared to women’s (37.6%)

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Findings: Participation of Cypriots aged 5+ in leisure sports activities

ParticipationParticipationPercent Percent weight in weight in population 5+population 5+

Aged 15+Aged 15+ 39.8%39.8% 85.7%85.7%

Ages 5 – 14 Ages 5 – 14 72.7%72.7% 14.3%14.3%

Ages 5+ Ages 5+ 44.5%44.5%

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Findings: Leisure Sport Participation Comparison with European data

European Data 20101

Country Participation

1. Greece 30,2%

2. Bulgaria 36,2%

3. Portugal 39,6%

4. Hungary 40,0%

5. Poland 42,8%

6. Italy 45,7%

7. Romania 47,6%

8. Cyprus 48,2%

23. Austria 70,9%

24. Slovenia 72,2%

25. Denmark 79,2%

26. Finland 91,2%

27. Sweden 93,3%

Cyprus Data from current survey 2012

Ages 15 + Ages 5-14 39,8% 72,7% 44,5%

(percentage of LS participation of ages 5+)

1Scheerder, J et al (2011) Understanding the Game. Sport Participation in Europe. Facts, Reflections and Recommendations SPM Report 10, University of Leuven

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Findings: Team and Individual Sports that Cypriots 15+ engage in

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Findings: Team and Individual Sports that Cypriots 15+ engage in (by gender)

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Findings: Frequency of exercising (by age)

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Findings: Reasons for exercising (by gender)

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Findings: Percentages of those who pay ZERO Euros (no cost) monthly for engaging in leisure sports

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Findings: Percentages of those whose annual cost for equipment for leisure sports is ZERO Euros

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Findings: How often do you watch sports events at the stadium / on TV

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Findings: Percentage of Cypriots who combine their vacation with leisure sports / physical activity

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Conclusions from the telephone research

• Around 40% of Cypriots aged 15 and above engage in leisure sports activities. In men the percentage who does so is 42% and in women almost 38%.

• Participation in leisure sports diminishes as the age increases, starting from 56% in the ages 15–24 down to 32% in the ages 60+.

• The most popular team sport is football and the most popular individual sport is walking followed by exercising at the gym on various exercise equipment.

• Walking is the most popular leisure sport. Walking is the most popular activity in both men (36%) and in women (60%).

• The prevalence of walking increases with age while the prevalence of gym decreases with age.

• The majority of Cypriots (68%) exercise more than three times per week.

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Desk Research

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Desk Research

• 3 main sectors regarding stakeholders were examined :

a) Sports Programmes

a) Sport Facilities

a) Costs of Facilities and Salaries

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Leisure / Grassroots Sports Stakeholders

Leisure Sports Grassroots Sports

StateCSOPrivate

Local Authorities

Gyms and Fitness

Universities

National Sport for All Programme

(SFA)

National Sport

Federations

National Sport

Federations

National Scheme of

Developmental Sport Support

(NSDSS)

Ministries

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Desk Research Findings

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The Cyprus Sport Organisation (CSO)

• Founded in 1969 • CSO is the Supreme Sports Authority in Cyprus• Is the main provider of Sports Programmes, Sport Facilities and

Sport Funding• Is the responsible body for policy issuing, promoting legislation

and for policy implementation and supervision.• In terms of Leisure, Grassroots and Social Sports, two main

programmes Function:• The National Sports for All Programme (SFA) and• The National Scheme for Developmental Support (NSDSS)

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National Sport for All Programme (SFA)

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• It was launched in 1985, aiming at the wellbeing, the leisure and the improvement of the physical condition and health of all citizens engaging in sports and physical activities.

• It offers programmes for all ages and supports programmes for the National Guard and the Security Corpses

• 2011 participation in Social Sports:

National Scheme for Developmental Sport Support (NSDSS)

• Supports and subsidizes the National Sport Federations, Clubs and Academies (funds and coaching).

• In addition it supports the following fields: The Material field covers part of the fund required for the purchase of sport materials. The field of Organisation concerns the cover of expenses, such as refereeing, secretarial

support etc. Transport covers the transport of teams for their participation in championships.

• In this way the NSDSS ensures the clubs’ participation in the federal championships.

• It covers athletes aged 12-16 and 16-18• Participation for the 2011-2012 period (7 months)

• 7,795 athletes (5,150 male and 2,645 female athletes)• 349 Coaches (309 males and 85 females)

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Ministries

• Ministry of Education and Culture: Facilities are offered for Leisure, Sport or Grassroots sports at School Settings (Gyms and Multiple Use Premises)

• Ministry of Justice and Public Order (in Collaboration with CSO): • Programmes are offered at the Police Academy as part of

the training• Recreational Sports are offered in Prisons in collaboration

• Ministry of Defense (in Collaboration with CSO): • Programmes are offered in the National Guard (Army)

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CSO’s National 2020 Strategic Plan

• The CSO’s Strategy for 2020 aims at developing a new era in the Cyprus Sports plan. A new, different attitude is shown, which focuses on the new conditions set by the European Sports Field and especially the European Union.

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Municipalities

• Municipalities: 26 Municipalities out of 30• Social Sport Programmes in collaboration with the SFA

Programme • Own Social Sport Programmes or in collaboration with local

bodies (e.g. Youth Clubs)• Population: All: Children, Youth, Women & Men, Elderly,

Migrants• Percentage of spending in relevance to total budget: Lowest

0.7%, Highest 5.14%. • Most budgets for sports are decreasing due to the economic

recession• Almost all Municipalities organise sport events (yearly prizes,

health promoting sport events etc.)

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Communities

• Communities: 17 Communities out of 354• Social Sports Programmes are offered only by 9

Communities• Programmes are either own or run either in cooperation

with the SFA• Budget percentages vary from 0.3% (lowest) to 25%

(highest – only 1 Community). • Only 7 Communities organise sport events.

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National Sport Federations

• 22 Federations out of 69 replied, of which 4 were not in a position to provide data

• 18 Federations run grassroots sport programmes, most of them in collaboration with their member clubs

• Nearly all programmes are addressed to children, adolescents and youth

• Almost all of the Federations cooperate with CSO and especially with NSDSS. Some of them cooperate with their European or International Federations

• 1National Scheme for Developmental Sports Support

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Age Distribution of population training under Federations

0-15 63.66% 16-30 13,29% 31-45 6,32% 45-60 1,70% over 60 1% Other 14,02%

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Tertiary Education

• There are no or there are very limited sports programmes offered at College level.

• All Universities (6) that replied have sports programmes for students that addresses both University Sport, as well as leisure sport.

• The University of Cyprus owns an Athletic Center which includes a huge variety of Sports.

• Private Universities mostly rent Sport facilities from the local Municipalities / Communities.

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Conclusions from Desk Survey (1)

• Cyprus has the necessary structure, infrastructure and institutions that can support Social, Leisure and Grassroots Sports.

• The economic recession has contributed to the decrease of funds allocated to Leisure, Social and Grassroots Sports, especially at Local Authorities Level.

• There seems to be willingness on behalf of the Cyprus Sports Organisation to further develop this field.

• There is a need to raise awareness at Local Authorities level regarding the value of Leisure and Social Sports, so that in the future they can include funds in their budgets. Especially at Community level the involvement in social sport seems to be limited. Furthermore some of them do not seem to have a clear definition of either Leisure or Social Sports.

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Conclusions from Desk Survey (2)

• Many sport federations do not seem to keep records or data regarding programmes, costs and participation.

• University Sport seems quite well established and enjoys support from the state. There does not seem to be much interest at College level.

• The Cyprus Sport Organisation seems well organized in terms of supporting the existing institutions, while at the same time it plays a crucial part in policy making and implementation. Lack of funds due to the economic recession seems to hinder further planning.

• European policy on the issue is rapidly developing and Cyprus seems to be playing a crucial part during its EU Presidency in 2012.

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Recommendations (1)

• Background: The important role of sport culture in the Cypriot society is well accepted and well justified by data available.

• Data available obviously denotes that more systematic work is required in cultivating a sporting culture in Cypriot Society, especially amongst adults and the elderly.

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Recommendations (2)

• Although Cypriots feel that sport is positively linked to their ways of life, still participating in sports and physical activities remains an issue and it is exactly for this reason that it is recommend a systematic promotion of sport and an active lifestyle starting from the pre-primary level of education.

• Life time sport participation should become a major pillar of development in the Cypriot educational system.

• This entails the teaching and acquisition of skills (at a very young age) that will enable adults and the elderly to become physically active.

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Recommendations (3)

• Municipalities and Communities should be encouraged to include sport programmes in their planning for all ages in order to give equal opportunities to all citizens in sport participation. Marginalised and vulnerable groups such as the elderly, the immigrants and the persons with special needs and disabilities should be able to find opportunities at Local Authorities level for exercising and engaging in social activities in an effort to use exercise as a tool of social inclusion and /or re-inclusion.

• The state should support any efforts towards developing a sporting culture and offering the necessary opportunities and facilities in order to realize a long-term planning of the physical activity being the major contributor to a healthy and active society

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Thank you for your attention!•University of Nicosia Research Team:

Dr Nicos Kartakoullis, Sports Management Specialist - Coordinator Dr Stavros Pouloukas, Statistician Dr Antonis Alexopoulos, Sport Sociologist Christina Loizou, Sociologist

Municipality of Engomi Physical Activity Programme for the Elderly

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