An impressive percentage of participation
A recent study reveals that 79% of Igualada students strive to stay active physically at least once a week. This far exceeds the average in Catalonia, which is 72.8%, as well as that of Barcelona, which is 77.4%.
Positive assessments of the City Council
The Councilor for Sports, Patrícia Illa, has expressed his satisfaction with the results of this study, noting that Igualada emphasizes for having a similar sporting participation between ESO and 5th and 6th grade students, with a difference of 10 points above the Catalan average.
Sports initiatives for adolescents
Illa has emphasized the importance of projects such as Jesa, which seeks to involve young people and adolescents who do not usually play sports, with the aim of promoting an active life in a stage where sports tends to decrease.
Natural spaces as catalysts for physical activity
A remarkable 53.1% of the young people of Igualada has stated that they play sports autonomously, taking advantage of the various green spaces and facilities such as the Central Park and the Green Ring, which facilitate healthy physical activity and promote socialization.
The key role of community
The councilor thanked the sports clubs, the Anoia Sports Council, the schools and family associations, which have contributed to these positive figures. In a presentation of results, teachers from the Ateneo and Mowgli schools shared that 90% of their students get involved in sports activities regularly.
Sports preferences and motivations
The study also revealed that young people prefer organized sports (44.4%), while 42.8% combine activities organized with pounds. Only 12.7% opt exclusively for unstructured sport.
Most popular sports
Among the most practiced organized sports are football and futsal (29.5%), basketball (8.5%), dance (7.5%) and swimming (6.9%). In the case of free practice, muscle training (18.6%), running (16.8%) and cycling (10.2%) are the most chosen activities.
Motivations behind physical activity
The main reason for young people to play sports is the pleasure they provide (44.1%), followed by competitiveness and fun in parties (14.2%) and the desire to stay in shape (12%).
Competitive commitment
60.9% of students participate in competitions, a percentage that rises to 63.4% among adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18.
Futuristic prospects for sport in Igualada
In conclusion, Illa has stated that the data obtained will be essential to design new strategies that promote inclusion and adapt to the needs of young people in Igualada, with the aim of further enhancing their involvement in sport.