NYC Needs 'Office Of Sports' To Help Keep NYers Healthy, Pol Says

NEW YORK, NY — Health disparities laid bare by the coronavirus pandemic has led one New York City councilman to propose creating an "Office of Sports & Recreation" specifically focused on making sure all New Yorkers have access to exercise.

Bronx and Uptown Manhattan Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez announced Thursday that he will introduce a bill to create the sports-focused office with the goal of bringing more recreation to young people in low-income communities, who may not have as much access to sports.

The bill, Rodriguez said, could help prevent health problems that disproportionately affect these communities, and have contributed to the coronavirus' toll on poor neighborhoods and people of color.

"This is about bringing equity into sports for all underserved, Latino, Black, and Asian communities," Rodriguez said. "Everyone saw the devastating impact COVID-19 had on low-income communities who suffer from disproportionate rates of asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Lack of healthy food options and quality sports and recreational opportunities have all contributed to this health disparity..."

Data on the coronavirus' spread in New York City and its death rate has revealed that the virus has been running rampant in poor neighborhoods and among people of color.

Those in the very high poverty bracket saw a death rate of 232.03 per 100,000 while low-poverty New Yorkers saw less than half that rate at 99.56, data show. Black and Latino New Yorkers continue to die at about twice the rate of white New Yorkers, when adjusted for age, data show.

The Office of Sports & Recreation would help grow professional, amateur and scholastic sports teams in New York City, develop plans for bringing more recreation opportunities to students and young people and promote education about sports, Rodriguez said.

It would write an annual report for the mayor and work with the Department of Education and Department of Parks and Recreation.

Rodriguez announced his bill with support from Bike New York, Row New York, Hudson River Sailing and alongside Nzingha Prescod, a Olympic fencing athlete who said she noticed the lack of sports opportunities when growing up in Brooklyn.

She said it was only by chance that she was able to become an athlete through the Peter Westbrook Foundation.

"I was only one of thousands in the public school system that had this access to a high quality sport education, which carried me to more than 30 countries, to the White House, to the Olympics, twice, Columbia University and more," Prescod said. "Every child should have the opportunity to become balanced, well-rounded and capable individuals through sport."