Tim Batt Water Solutions
Tim Batt Water Solutions are at the very forefront of the commercial aquatic business in Australia, with over 30 years specific experience supplying and installing chemical control and dosing…
read moreAlcohol, gambling and fast food and drink sponsors are prolific across Australian sporting codes, with new research revealing that nearly three quarters of sporting bodies funded by State and Federal Government are sponsored by companies promoting potentially harmful products.
Unhealthy food and drink sponsors were the most prevalent, sponsoring nearly 50% of Australian peak sporting bodies, followed by alcohol and then gambling industries.
The research, presented for the first time at Sports Medicine Australia’s be active 2014 conference last week, highlights the extent of Australian children’s exposure to these harmful messages via national and state/territory sport websites.
Rona Macniven of the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney said linking unhealthy brands with the positive aspects of sport significantly undermines the health benefits of sport and exposes children to negatively influential messages.
Macniven explained “associating these harmful products with positive aspects of sport normalises associated activities such as gambling, drinking alcohol and consuming fast food and sugary drinks.
“Our research revealed a pervasive level of unhealthy sponsorship across our sporting codes.
“Cricket, both rugby codes, Australia football, basketball and soccer (football) all had sponsorship agreements across all three unhealthy categories – alcohol, fast food and sugary drinks and gambling – with cricket taking the prize for the overall highest proportion of unhealthy sponsors.
“Despite these concerning results, it was encouraging to see that there were 14 sports that remained free from unhealthy product branding – this shows it is possible for sports organisations to survive without relying on unhealthy and harmful sponsors.”
Macniven called for greater consistency in aligning sport related policies with health policy, adding “we need to see this level of exposure to unhealthy messages through sport reduced - particularly among Australian children - through regulatory guidelines or policy to limit unhealthy sponsorship.
“Action is needed to raise awareness among athletes and the sport sector more broadly about the potential impacts of unhealthy sponsorship, and encourage them to take a strong stand against unhealthy sponsorship practice.”
The research, Unhealthy product sponsorship of Australian national and state sports organisations, assessed the nature and extent of unhealthy food and beverage, alcohol and gambling sponsorship across government funded Australian national, state and territory level sports bodies through a comprehensive audit of their websites.
be active 2014 was held in Canberra from 15th to 18th October. For more information go to www.beactive2014.org
27th August 2014 - STUDY SHOWS DRINKS CHILDREN ASSOCIATE WITH SPORT ARE LARGELY UNHEALTHY
10th June 2014 - FAST FOOD SPONSORSHIP SWAMPS CHILDRENS SPORT
18th January 2014 - ALCOHOL BRANDS DEFEND SPORTS SPONSORSHIPS
15th October 2013 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA CRITICISED FOR REJECTING ANTI-ALCOHOL ADVERTISING IN DOMESTIC ONE-DAY COMPETITION
12th June 2013 - AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND SPORT SPONSORSHIP MARKET WORTH $927 MILLION
14th May 2013 - ICSS CALLS FOR A MULTINATIONAL, MULTIAGENCY APPROACH TO MONITORING BETTING IN SPORT
7th September 2011 - WA VENUES MOVE AWAY FROM ALCOHOL SPONSORSHIP
2nd March 2011 - SPORT SHOULD SHARE GAMBLING REVENUES
13th April 2010 - ONE IN THREE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN ARE COUCH POTATOES
28th December 2009 - RUDD AND BENAUD URGE DRINKERS ‘TO DECLARE’
Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.
However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.
Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.
Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.
Click here to subscribe.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Tim Batt Water Solutions are at the very forefront of the commercial aquatic business in Australia, with over 30 years specific experience supplying and installing chemical control and dosing…
read moreSupreme Heating is a proud Australian owned company specialising in the latest energy efficient heating solutions. Since 1990, Supreme Heating has designed and installed commercial pool heating…
read moreiEDM integrate Design, Engineering and Delivery Management services to convert existing spaces into exciting new entertainment venues. Our team consists of highly qualified professionals with diverse…
read moreRhinoplay offers playground equipment in Australia that is safe, durable, and most importantly fun! We specialise in creating unique indoor playgrounds for play centres and outdoor playgrounds for…
read moreOver the past 10 years Debitsuccess has been providing expert billing services to businesses across Australia. Debitsuccess is now the largest full service direct debit provider in Australasia,…
read moreLeisure Concepts brings the world’s leading fitness equipment brands to Australasia - these include True Fitness, Atlantis Strength, Merrithew (Stott Pilates), Intenza Fitness,…
read moreTalk To Us For Independent Advice & Specialised Services We're business people, not sales reps IP HUB is one of Australia’s leading advisors on telecoms for both small businesses and…
read moreThe Fitness Generation is now part of NovoFit - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/novofit/
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!