The 2012 Olympic Games in London is expected to provide a big boost for sport in the UK.
But there are still barriers to taking part in some communities, despite plenty of interest.
The Olympic games, coming to the British capital in 2012, continues to have an enormous impact on east London.
Huge areas of waste land have been cleared to make way for a state-of-the-art stadium and Olympic village, slum housing has been refurbished and property prices are booming. But is everyone getting excited about sport?
Not according to the organisation Sport England which encourages nationwide participation of sporting activities.
Its figures show that Muslim women are significantly less likely to take up exercise compared to other groups….
Eighteen-year-old Raheema from Tower Hamlets in east London explains how she only plays badminton in her backyard, away from prying eyes.
She is not encouraged to do any sport by her family who would rather see her in the kitchen or sewing. She last did sport regularly at school as it was compulsory then.
The last time she went swimming was six years ago when she was 12 years old and before she hit puberty. Raheema says this is because no Muslim girl can wear a revealing swimming costume.
Seventeen-year-old Asha on the other hand, another Muslim girl from east London, is a sport enthusiast.
She loves playing football and has been playing for the past seven years and has the trophies to prove it.
But she knows her days playing the game are numbered. Her mother, father and eldest brother are against her playing.
She says they will probably stop her from playing next year when she is 18. She will be a woman then and have to take on responsibilities.
“Now I’m young, I can play,” she said. “Sometimes I get excited (about the thought of playing professionally) but then I think my mum won’t let me, and my brother and I think I won’t be allowed.”
Shahid Saleh, a young British Muslim who has five sisters, explains how he does not like the idea of them playing games.
“I wouldn’t want them to play sports,” he said. “You’re not allowed to uncover yourself like wearing tracksuit bottoms and all that, and play football or badminton, you have to cover yourself.”
Cultural barriers remain in taking up a career in sport. Twelve-year-old Zahir Ahmed says that his parents encourage him to study hard rather than to waste time playing.
Although he does reckon his father would want him to become a famous tennis player as there is a lot of money in it.
Meanwhile, Sport England is working to try to get more Muslim women doing sport.
It is funding projects which target these groups and put on exclusive women-only activities which allow women wearing the full hijab and covered up to still take part.
It’s such a perfect snapshot of contemporary English officialdom. No question of trying to change this culture of misogyny, or arguing that, you know, living in Britain they might actually think about adapting to British mores. Instead we get the ludicrous prospect of state funding being poured into activities for segregated women, dressed up in hijab and maybe a nice full-length black robe, to compete in….what? The 100 yards shuffle? The hop hop and hop?
Mind you, I bet there’d be no shortage of potential spectators if they ever thought of doing it in public. The swimming events alone would be worth the entrance fee.
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