Why should The Hague classify sport as essential?
Sports have a good effect on resistance, which is very important during a pandemic. Photo: KNVB Media
So far, nearly 400,000 people have signed the petition calling on the Cabinet to add sports to basic sectors. Four reasons why sports are always open:
1. Exercising is healthy
The sports sector provides something very important: it contributes to improving health and resistance. Exercise reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, symptoms of depression and bone fractures in the elderly. The Council of Health advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to encourage people to continue to exercise and to sit less.
2. Sports view encourages you to move
Lots of people love to move, but sometimes they need a big push or stick. Tastes differ and where one person wants to play football, the other prefers running, fitness or hockey. If this difference is not allowed, the total number of people who participate in sports is rapidly decreasing. This is also evidenced by research by the NOC*NSF: Nearly half of the Dutch have started doing less exercise due to the second lockdown.
Research No Objection Certificate * NSF
Read more about research.
3. Sports save society money
Of course, sports also cost society money. For example, the total bill for all injuries is 17.8 million euros. But these costs far outweigh the benefits. Because thanks to amateur football, 366.95 million euros are saved annually for the care of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. For mental health this is 42.55 million euros. The value of “subjective well-being” (exercise makes people healthier and happier, which has a value calculated using an international scientific formula) is €2.1 billion.
Amateur football is worth 5 billion to society
Read the article.
4. Exercise does not cause inflammation
Sports have a good effect on resistance, which is very important during a pandemic. There is little or no inflammation during exercise. This is evident from the RIVM numbers. The same also applies to staying outdoors, for example during football. There are hardly any travel movements (due to the training sessions) as the Dutch live on average just 1.6 kilometers from a football club. So the cycling distance.
In short, the benefits of exercise far outweigh the disadvantages. Sport is necessary, healthy and must be stimulated.
“Professional reader. Award-winning gamer. Zombie buff. Social media junkie. Bacon maven. Web scholar.”