Paris 2024: How many sports facilities are there in Bedford?

With the 2024 Paris Olympics well under way, figures show how Bedford stacks up when it comes to opportunities to play sport.

Sport England data from October shows there were 399 sports facilities in the area.

While half of these were grass pitches, there were also 30 gyms, 48 sports halls and 18 swimming pools.

Bedford also has 25 outdoor tennis courts, six squash courts and two indoor tennis centres.

Analysis from the Office for National Statistics shows places with the fewest facilities per person tend to be in urban areas – with 12 of the worst 15 in London.

Meanwhile, 14 of the 15 areas with the most places to play sport were in rural areas.

Its findings suggest those with a greater number of sports facilities in their area are more likely to be active for more than two and a half hours a week.

However, it cautioned this may be due to "demographic and socio-economic differences between rural, suburban and densely populated areas".

Sport England said it is "laser-focused" on tackling inequalities.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, an executive director at the organisation, said: "We know that where you live directly impacts how active you are.

"That is why we target our funding and resources to where they are most needed to ensure that the communities in greatest need are able to be physically active in their local area, and we work with partners like the Football Foundation to enhance and improve facilities all over the country."

Bedford had a sports facility for every 464 residents, or 945 excluding grass pitches.

Across the country these figures were 584 and 1,121 respectively.

Sport England has a ‘movement fund’, which offers up to £15,000 for community organisations to provide better opportunities for physical activity.

Across England, around 77% of facilities registered with Sport England are classed as 'publicly accessible' – which includes those that are free to use, 'pay and play', and sports clubs. The remainder are private.

In Bedford, 78% are publicly accessible.

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "As the Culture Secretary has made clear, talent is everywhere but opportunity is not and we are committed to giving people of all ages access to sport, including funding grassroots facilities.

"We want to give everyone the chance to emulate their sporting heroes and achieve their dreams, wherever they come from."