HULL'S new status as a premier sporting city will be used to

tackle worrying levels of poor health and fitness across the

city.

Although the city now has three top-flight professional

teams in Hull City, Hull FC and Hull KR, health rates among the

worst in the country.

Now, Hull City council and public health officials have

joined forces to draw up Hull's first sports and active

recreation strategy.

They say there has never been a better time to build on

Hull's current sporting glory by encouraging thousands of

people to follow the example of their football and rugby heroes

to get fitter.

Latest figures suggest up to 30,000 people in Hull need to

become more physically active if the city is to close the gap

on the healthiest places in Yorkshire.

The statistics also show 61.4 per cent of people in Hull are

overweight or obese, while binge drinking among is over twice

the national average for men and women.

Key aims of the strategy over the next five years are to

improve the health and fitness of children and adults. These

include:

Forging closer partnerships with Hull City, Hull FC and Hull

KR through their community programmes.

Increasing participation rates in sport and recreation by

one per cent year on year.

Supporting recently-announced Government plans to double the

number of sports lessons in schools from two-and-a-half hours a

week to five.

Providing new sports facilities across Hull, including

playing fields and sports halls, linked to the £400m Building

Schools For The Future project.

Councillor Kalvin Neal, cabinet member for quality of life,

said: “The three professional clubs already do a lot in the

community and I believe they can act as role models. Kids look

up to the players and to see what they have achieved through

sport and being healthy has to be

positive.

“Taking up any sport is great, but it's just as important

for people to start taking a little gentle exercise if they

don't do anything at the moment.”

As part of the drive to tackle poor health, walking and

cycling will be promoted, physical exercise programmes for GP

referrals will be expanded and more people will be encouraged

to get involved in volunteering, coaching and administration at

grassroots level.