Too little exercise among children: “Children used to be able to do something with what was there”

In many cities, unlike here, there is either not enough sports on offer or the children don't have enough time to do sports. Both are a problem.

The youth departments of gymnastics and sports clubs are larger than ever, but children exercise less and less outside of training sessions and sports halls. It would take little to change that.

Everything used to be better. Children fearlessly climbed around in trees, balanced easily on the wall and jumped rope with nimble feet. Today, young people are largely considered unsporting. According to studies, around 80 percent of boys and girls do not even achieve the minimum amount of physical exercise of one hour per day set by the World Health Organization (WHO). On the other hand, the gymnastics and sports clubs in this country are recording record membership numbers, even in the youngest age groups. How does that fit together?