Games No Spur To Alter Habits: Survey

The Age

Monday July 3, 2006

PETER KER

VICTORIANS emphatically believe the Commonwealth Games were well organised and safe, but the $1.1 billion festival has failed to change attitudes towards fitness, community participation and public transport.

An internal State Government report on the success of the Games found many of the legacy claims made before the 12-day event have not been borne out.

In a survey of almost 1000 people by Quantum Market Research, 58 per cent said the Games would not increase their participation in sport - a blow to Games Minister Justin Madden's other ministry, Sport and Recreation, which had pinned its "Go For Your Life" message on the event. The Government also invested heavily in advertising campaigns to promote exercise.

Despite the success of the Games volunteers program and its 15,000-strong workforce, 59 per cent of those surveyed reported no increased desire to join in community activities.

The result is sorry news for organisations such as the AFL, which courted the Games volunteers with free tickets and inducements to carry on volunteering at football clubs.

Hopes that the free travel on public transport during the Games would be habit forming have also flagged, with 47 per cent saying the Games had not increased their willingness to use trains, trams and buses.

Despite the results, Mr Madden said the Games would have a long-term effect on Victorians' lifestyles. "The real test will be in a couple of years' time - I'm very confident that volunteering and participation and the like will rise because of the Games," he said.

The good news for the Government is that the rest of the report is a glowing endorsement of Games organisers, with 93 per cent of the public saying the event was either well organised or very well organised, 87 per cent believing that hosting the Games was worthwhile, and 86 per cent thinking the Games were a success or a huge success.

Senior Games organisers have also fared well, with most now enjoying lucrative and/or high-profile executive positions.

© 2006 The Age

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