Calgary Launches 'Sport Hub' to Remove Barriers for Youth Sports Participation
The City of Calgary has officially launched the Sport Hub program, a collaborative initiative designed to eliminate barriers preventing youth from participating in sports. By integrating external coaching expertise and equipment into schools and community centers, the program aims to enhance physical literacy, confidence, and lifelong engagement in athletics among children. This initiative addresses common obstacles such as high registration fees, lack of equipment, and transportation issues. The program is a partnership between the city’s recreation department, Calgary’s two largest school boards, and over two dozen community organizations, including Jumpstart and the United Way of Calgary and Area. Although piloted from 2017 to 2020 before being paused due to the pandemic, Sport Hub was revived with a soft launch last year, reaching over 5,000 students. It is now expanding to 92 schools across 46 neighborhoods, specifically selected using the Calgary Equity Index to target areas with significant access barriers. Participants can try 14 different sports, ranging from cricket to fencing, through free or low-cost opportunities that complement existing school physical education curricula.
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Calgary Launches 'Sport Hub' to Remove Barriers for Youth Sports Participation
The City of Calgary has officially launched the Sport Hub program, a collaborative initiative designed to eliminate barriers preventing youth from participating in sports. By integrating external coaching expertise and equipment into schools and community centers, the program aims to enhance physical literacy, confidence, and lifelong engagement in athletics among children. This initiative addresses common obstacles such as high registration fees, lack of equipment, and transportation issues. The program is a partnership between the city’s recreation department, Calgary’s two largest school boards, and over two dozen community organizations, including Jumpstart and the United Way of Calgary and Area. Although piloted from 2017 to 2020 before being paused due to the pandemic, Sport Hub was revived with a soft launch last year, reaching over 5,000 students. It is now expanding to 92 schools across 46 neighborhoods, specifically selected using the Calgary Equity Index to target areas with significant access barriers. Participants can try 14 different sports, ranging from cricket to fencing, through free or low-cost opportunities that complement existing school physical education curricula.
Calgary Herald