NEWS RELEASE
COUNTDOWN TO 2012 AND 2014 BEGINS WITH WALK HOMECOMING 2009
Ramblers start 2009 with plan to ‘Walk the Path to 2014’: Dennis Canavan urges action.
Ramblers Scotland today launched ‘Walk the Path to 2014’, a plan to get Scotland fit and active in time for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. The plan aims for a massive increase in the numbers of people walking as part of their everyday lives.
‘Walk the Path to 2014’(1) reviews the experiences of other countries hosting major sporting events in achieving a physical activity legacy, and puts forward plans to promote walking and develop Scotland’s path network ahead of and beyond 2014.
Dennis Canavan, President of Ramblers Scotland (2) said: “Walking is something almost everyone can do. It’s free, enjoyable and an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. I urge everyone, from Government Ministers to primary school teachers, to set an example and help everyone to get walking. Let’s get out of the starting blocks with Homecoming Scotland 2009 and get on the route to 2014.”
‘Walk the Path to 2014’ proposes a sustained campaign to promote walking to ensure the 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy helps to address Scotland’s shocking health record. Walking is accessible to almost everyone, requiring no specialised equipment or major facilities. It has huge potential in encouraging those who are today living in disadvantaged circumstances to significantly improve their lifestyles and aspirations.
Ramblers will be developing a number of projects to promote the benefits of walking, beginning with Walk Homecoming 2009, a project to encourage all who live in Scotland, as well as those returning from far away, to walk about and enjoy our cultural and historical heritage.
For 2009, Ramblers Scotland would like to see ‘medal’ walking routes, to suit all levels of fitness, identified as bronze, silver and gold routes, in all parts of Scotland. On average, the walking time for these routes should be 15 minutes for bronze, 30 for silver and 1 hour for gold routes. Routes should start from walking ‘hubs’ such as post offices and community centres, schools and hospitals, hotels and hostels, cafes and shops, farms and distilleries, bus and railway stations. Every city, town and village can establish any number of walking hubs, all with bronze, silver and gold routes for exploring the local heritage.
Dennis concluded: “It is imperative that we all use the Scottish Government’s Homecoming Scotland initiative in 2009, the lead up to the London Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 as catalysts to promote walking activity and make Scotland healthier, safer and stronger.”
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Notes:
(1) Dennis Canavan was first elected to the House of Commons in 1974 and was a member of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 until he stood down in May 2007. He has a long-standing interest in sport and the outdoors – enjoying cycling, hill walking and horse riding. Dennis was Convener of the Cross Party Sports Group in the Scottish Parliament and Chair of the Scottish Sports Group in the Westminster Parliament.
(2) 2014 walking plan
‘Walk the Path to 2014’ aims to substantially increase the numbers of people walking in Scotland and use the stimulus of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to help increase physical activity levels across the Scottish population as a whole.
The plan proposes extensive promotion of walking, involving support and expansion of existing work to promote walking, as well as work on new programmes. It also examines the need to develop much better path networks in and around Scottish communities, both for walking and other non motorised activities such as cycling. The proposals target the inactive majority of the Scottish population, notably communities suffering from serious social and physical deprivation, as well as young people.
‘Walk the Path to 2014’ can be accessed at www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
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