Releases
| Crash Test Munkii | |||
| 21 February 2007 - MUNKII-ING AROUND - COULD IT BE THE ANSWER TO CHILDHOOD OBESITY? | |||
 Less than a month after Tony Blair announced that alternative sports, such as Golf and Skateboarding, were to be introduced in schools in an effort to battle soaring childhood obesity rates, a Worthing based animation company have launched a brand new website aimed at increasing children’s participation in sports.
The new website, launched by Crash Test Munkii last month, aims to teach children skills and disciplines within a whole range of ‘urban’ sports’, starting with skateboarding, street football and basketball. The Crash Test Munkii – or Butler, as he is better known, is a new character that will demonstrate, through a series of animations, how to master skills such as “The Ollie” and “Keepy Uppy”. Butler and his friend Griller go through moves, step-by-step, so that kids can then learn them by themselves. They can then download the moves to their iPod, mobile phone or desktop, so that they can be watched and practiced again and again. Director Steve Woodard comments, “Childhood obesity is becoming an increasing problem in the UK and too many children are inactive and lack enthusiasm for sports. We hope that The Crash Test Munkii will inspire and motivate kids to learn new sporting skills in a way that they will still find cool and interesting.” The website has been launched at a time when obesity in children in UK is becoming more and more common. Obesity in children is four times higher today than it was 30 years ago and is due to an imbalance between energy consumption and energy expenditure. Figures from the Health Survey for England 2004 (published April 2006) suggest that one in four boys (24%) and girls (26%) aged 11-15 years are obese - an increase of 10% since 1995. These statistics are of great concern as soaring rates in obesity have lead to an increase in childhood type II diabetes and will lead to increased cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers in the future. Estimates indicate that if current childhood obesity trends continue, at least one fifth of boys and one third of girls will be obese by 2020.The only way to prevent and treat childhood obesity is by increasing physical activity and encouraging a well balanced and healthy diet. Tony Blair commented at the conference in Telford on the 1st February 2007 that, while progress had been made through school dinners and healthy eating, it is only half the story and further attempts will be made to combat the problem through increasing sports activities in schools. The changes to the school sports syllabus are being introduced as it has been recognised that choice in the style of exercise offered to school-age children is desirable, as not all children want to play competitive or mixed sports. A wider range of sports - including Cycling, Archery, Skateboarding and Golf - and flexibility to run activities that best suit the pupils is hoped to raise interest in exercise and encourage children to participate in more than four hours per week of compulsory sport by 2010. “The key to increasing kid’s interest in sport and health issues is to make it something that they want to take part in. As well as teaching kids the latest sports moves, www.munkii.com has an online munkii blog, free downloads and tons of cool articles to read – and the best bit is that it’s FREE to register.” states Steve Woodard, “Crash Test Munkii aim to inspire and motivate children to get out there and have a go.” Members of the Crash Test Munkii website will also have access to information and articles that non-members do not have, will be eligible to enter competitions to win exclusive gifts and will also be among the first to see the new Munkii move animations as soon as they are developed. More information about Crash Test Munkii can be found by visiting www.munkii.com |
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