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Introduction to Sport and Public Health

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Sports-Based Health Interventions

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Abstract

Sport’s global popularity and unique power to deliver a message to a broad audience make it a highly valuable, but under-utilized, public health tool. This chapter provides an overview of the different ways in which sport can play a role across the spectrum of public health activity – in health promotion; screening and immunization; peacebuilding and community development; and disaster response. Key policies which have underpinned the emergence of sports-based public health initiatives in the 21st Century are also discussed, as well as critical perspectives on the role of sport in public health work.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See Box 1.5</InternalRef>.

  2. 2.

    Estimated to reach 9.6 billion by 2050.

  3. 3.

    The current global life expectancy of 69 years rising to 76 years in 2045–2050 and 82 years in 2095–2100.

  4. 4.

    See Box 1.5.

  5. 5.

    http://www.healthystadia.eu

  6. 6.

    Now Prostate Cancer UK http://prostatecanceruk.org

  7. 7.

    Now Leeds Beckett University

  8. 8.

    http://safetyatsportsgrounds.org.uk

  9. 9.

    http://www.streetchance.org

  10. 10.

    Gender issues in sport are discussed further in Chap. 4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Hertfordshire County Council, County Hall, Pegs Lane, CHO231, Hertford, SG13 8DN, UK

    David Conrad

  2. Centre for Men’s Health, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3HE, UK

    Alan White

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  1. David Conrad
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Correspondence to David Conrad .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hertfordshire County Council , Hertford, United Kingdom

    David Conrad

  2. Institute for Health & Wellbeing, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Alan White

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Conrad, D., White, A. (2016). Introduction to Sport and Public Health. In: Conrad, D., White, A. (eds) Sports-Based Health Interventions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5996-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5996-5_1

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