Be prepared, was the message from keynote speaker Andrew Rutledge (head of the Christchurch City Council’s Parks, Citizens and Community group) at Lincoln University’s 9th Annual Sport and Recreation Forum on campus yesterday.
The focus of the event was the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on sport and recreation.
Mr Rutledge said the importance of green open spaces was amplified during the lockdown, something that was measurable by the increase in people walking their dogs.
He emphasised the need to prepare business continuity plans now in the event of another COVID-19.
“Make sure you have a plan B, and even a plan C.”
Lincoln students and academics also presented at the forum.
Professor Mike Hamlin and Dr Catherine Elliot gave an overview of the results of their physical activity lockdown survey, which highlighted the benefits of exercise.
Bachelor of Sport and Recreation students Mikayla Gillespie and Tommy Lamb, and Bachelor of Environmental Policy (Honours) student Max Lichtenstein, who is doing a Parks and Outdoor Recreation major, all talked about their research.
Mikayla discussed teachers’ perceptions of children’s physical activity during lockdown, while Tommy examined the experiences of sport and recreation organisations during the same period.
Max presented on planning challenges in protected areas, such as national parks.
The forum was also hosted on Zoom, with questions from the audience presented to a panel of speakers.
More than 80 people attended in person and over 40 tuned in on Zoom.
- Watch full coverage of the forum here:https://youtu.be/AZPeMwX2Kfg
- A video, produced by Lincoln University and the NZ Parks Leaders Forum, was also launched on the day and aims to attract people to a parks career:https://youtu.be/4nmm3MqLqJs
