College Sport Wellington (CSW) is thrilled to report a remarkable year of growth in secondary school sports participation. Despite the challenges of recent years, the commitment of schools, students, and the broader sports community has driven unprecedented levels of engagement, as confirmed by the latest census data.

In 2024, CSW recorded an additional 1,183 students participating in school sport compared to 2023, bringing the total to a record-breaking 16,935 students. These students collectively took part in 32,872 sporting opportunities—an increase of 2,234 from the previous year.

Resilience and Collaboration Pay Off

Reflecting on the achievement, CSW Executive Director Bryan Dickinson acknowledged the journey to this success. “As with all sports organisations, the last few years have been particularly challenging for College Sport Wellington. However, I’m proud to report that the staff of CSW and our member schools have so far successfully navigated this. Thanks to the flexibility, perseverance, and goodwill from our community, students returned in droves last year, resulting in a noticeable increase in team entries for a number of sports.”

Breaking Down the Numbers

The 2024 census highlights significant milestones:

• Overall participation: Increased from 55.8% to 58.1%, a growth of 2.3%.
• Female participation: Rose to 54.6%, a 2.4% increase—the highest since 2018.
• Male participation: Climbed to 61.5%, an increase of 2.2%.

These figures demonstrate a strong recovery and further growth following the disruptions of recent years, underscoring the region's resilience and commitment to fostering an inclusive sporting culture.

Empowering Rangatahi Through Opportunity

The growth in participation was matched by an expansion in the variety of sports on offer, ensuring rangatahi had more chances to engage. Initiatives like girls-only events, targeted opportunities for underrepresented groups, and broader competition formats have been instrumental in this success.

Looking Forward

The surge in participation signals a bright future for Wellington secondary school sport. As CSW looks to build on this momentum, the focus remains on providing opportunities for all rangatahi to experience the benefits of sport.

Congratulations to all schools, students, and stakeholders for their role in this exceptional year!

Article added: Thursday 28 November 2024