IT is now 50 years since I became president of the Central Council for Physical Recreation. Though hardly a household name, the council has done much to make life better for millions who enjoy sport and recreation in this country.

The council was formed in 1935 as a co-operative organisation for the governing bodies of team and individual sports and non-competitive recreations. The idea was to bring the leaders together to consider common problems and to discuss issues of common interest. Much of the pressure for better facilities for sport and recreation was generated through the CCPR and the National Playing Fields Association. With the strong tradition of self-help in this country, the administration of sport and recreation developed around the major clubs or a federation of clubs.

Local clubs were formed by people who wished to take part in a particular sport - in many cases games learnt at school - but they needed one body to provide the rules and regulations. With the advent of international sport, largely stimulated by the introduction of the Olympic Games, international federations of national governing bodies were formed to provide common rules.

Many clubs soon appreciated the need to encourage the younger generation to participate and they introduced junior sections and coaching schemes. Many of these schemes were then expanded by the national governing bodies and eventually started to attract government funds - particularly for the “major” sports and those included within the Olympic Games.

The development of non-competitive recreations, such as hill walking, mountaineering, sailing, cycle touring, dancing, and sub-aqua diving, also involved the formation of administrative bodies. These too set about encouraging the younger generations to learn the techniques and to take part safely. Some sports and recreations carry greater risks of injury than others, but the qualifications for participation are set by people with personal experience and expertise.

This is very important because virtually all sports and recreations carry a certain level of risk, but risks are relative to the knowledge and competence of the participant. You cannot just get on to a bobsleigh and go down the Cresta Run on a whim. The risk of disaster would be much too great. It needs training, experience, self-control and aptitude before such an activity can be enjoyed with the minimum of risk. Overcoming the risks by preparation is a real satisfaction.

Risk is also the obverse of safety. If the consideration of safety becomes paramount, any worthwhile physical activity becomes impossible. There has to be a balance. Experienced participants know which are the most common and likely risks and they will know the best ways to guard against them. It would never be possible to guarantee any worthwhile activity as completely accident free. It could certainly not be done by legislation and bureaucratic regulation.

There are huge opportunities for adventurous young people to become leaders, trainers and coaches. The British Sports Trust - which was set up by the CCPR - initiated and runs the very successful Community Sports Leaders Award scheme.

This is particularly important for a country where the majority of young people grow up in an urban environment with very limited opportunities for participation in adventurous activities. The pressure on schools to deliver good examination results and the growing costs of providing for adventurous activities has significantly reduced participation.

This means local clubs and national governing bodies have a greater responsibility for introducing young people to these activities. Given modest financial support, I am confident that they will continue to make a very significant contribution. It would be highly damaging to the development of young people if they were denied the chance to train for, and participate in, challenging physical activities.

Teachers and clubs should continue to take pupils on adventurous activities, because not to teach children about risk and responsibility, is a failure to provide a rounded education. Tragic events will inevitably happen because no matter how careful we are, risk can never be completely eradicated.

This is why we must be responsible about risk and do our best to ensure that children are equipped to deal with it.