WHILE many women would argue that shopping is indeed a sport, the WA Sports Federation disagrees.
Following Geoff Gallop’s back flip to support extended retail trading hours this week the Federation has sent an email to its 120 member sporting associations and organisations, representing some 600,000 sporting participants, clearly stating its opposition to deregulating shopping hours.
For WASF to shop is not to play sport. In its position paper sent to members WASF claims there will be fewer volunteers to commit to club based sport and that teenage participation will drop off as casual employment demands increase in the 16-year old to 20-year old age bracket. The paper goes on to say that a 2002 survey found 90 per cent of members believed that any further extension of retail trading hours would lead to a decrease in sports participation.