MARKET ANALYSIS
Health goals: Governments need to get people more active
Since 2009, 8 August is now the statutory 'Fitness for All Day' in China aimed at encouraging Chinese citizens to participate in sporting activities
relatively steady at 29,890, while membership grew to 50.2 million indi- viduals. Also 7.6 million consumers used clubs as non-members.
Wellness initiatives Governments in a number of devel- oped and developing countries have recently made recommendations and implemented policies to improve pub- lic health and wellbeing. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) was conducting a review of the benefits of providing “exercise on prescription”. Additionally, the European Commission launched a review of VAT regulations, to include health clubs and services. The Fitness Industry Association (FIA) works closely with the UK govern- ment, and has launched four national wellbeing initiatives: Commit to Get Fit, Get Active UK, Adopt a School, and Active at Work. During the preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games, China launched the “Fitness for All” and the “Be Part of the Olympics” event nationwide. In August 2009, China promoted the Regulations Governing Fitness for All to safeguard a citizen’s right to fit- ness and to advance the Fitness for
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All movement. In China, 8 August is now the statutory 'Fitness for All Day', aimed at encouraging people to partici- pate in sporting activities. There are over 850,000 stadiums and gymnasiums, 176 national and provincial sport associations, 23 pro- vincial Sport for All service centres, 210,000 sport and fitness service sta- tions and 3,092 teenage sport clubs across China. In addition, the author- ities have implemented the National Physique Monitoring System, Physical Exercise Benchmark System, and Sport For All Coaching System. The Australian government’s
Department of Health and Aging cre- ated the National Physical Activity Guidelines, which outline minimum lev- els of physical activity required to gain a health benefit and ways to incorpo- rate incidental activity into daily life. After successfully lobbying for the inclusion of youth fitness member-
ships under the recently introduced Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, the Fitness Industry Council of Canada is currently campaigning for the expan- sion of the programme to include all active Canadians. The Adult Fitness Tax Credit would enable the government to offer a credit for eligible sport and physical activity fees up to US$500. There are two bills pending in the US Congress that would directly ben- efit the industry. IHRSA’s Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act would allow for balanced tax treat- ments for the cost of fitness centre memberships as an employee benefit. The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act would allow expenditures for exercise and physical activity – such as health club memberships – to be payable with pre-tax dollars. l
Kristen Walsh is IHRSA Associate Publisher. Contact
kwalsh@ihrsa.org
OBTAIN THE FULL REPORT: The 2011 IHRSA International Report: Size & Scope of Key Health Club Markets (cost US$995.00 IHRSA members/US$1,495.00 non-members) and The 2011 IHRSA International Report: Size & Scope of Key Health Club Markets - Club Operator Edition (cost US$49.95 IHRSA members/US$99.95 non-members) can both be purchased by logging on to
ihrsa.org/industry-research or by contacting
store@ihrsa.org
Read Leisure Management online
leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital ISSUE 1 2012 © cybertrek 2011
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