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07/12/2007
Sports Minister speaks out for boxing in schools
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live today to give his backing to the ABAE's efforts to promote boxing in schools.
Talking about the ABAE's pilot scheme involving 150 Sheffield schoolchildren, the minister said:
"If it is successful I want to roll it out in the rest of the country. It teaches them respect, discipline and camaraderie. There are many youngsters involved in gun crime and gangs, and I think boxing may touch some of them, and take them down a different route.
"If you look at boxers - Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Amir Khan - they are great people for youngsters to see as role models."
During the interview, the minister said that boxing would be a voluntary activity that would only take place with the permission of parents, but he stressed the sport's importance in tackling childhood obesity and promoting general fitness.
"I think boxing ticks all the right boxes. It increases fitness and discipline, and people benefit from being involved in the sport. Boxing is making a return and I think some youngsters ought to have the opportunity to experience it.
"It's a good sport that is well regulated and gives people wonderful opportunities. Some people who might go off the rails or off the track, boxing could be their saviour."
Mr Sutcliffe also spoke about the safety aspects of boxing, saying:
"I accept some of the arguments that are there, but it's well regulated, and the ABA have got high standards. All sports have the potential for accidents and have risk attached to them. People are not allowed to box until they are 11 years old, there is the headgear there, all the safety aspects. It is better regulated than ever before."
The interview will be available to listen to again from Saturday,by following this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/morning.shtml
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