There is growing recognition of the importance of physical activity (PA) in children and youth for the primary prevention of obesity and certain non-communicable diseases, later in life. Moreover, PA during childhood is essential for normal growth and development, while PA and sport are a platform for the development of social capital, social cohesion and inclusiveness, as well as promoting gender equity. Indeed, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the World Health Organization consider both the opportunity for children to participate in sport, PA or play, and “the highest attainable standard of health,” respectively, as fundamental human rights. Despite this, some studies have shown a decline in children’s PA levels, most notably in low socioeconomic status (SES) groups in high-income countries, or in those children from urban vs rural settings in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). More locally, results from the South African Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2008 showed that less than half (43%) of adolescents participating in the survey reported sufficient levels of health-enhancing vigorous PA, which is a decrease in prevalence of 2% from 2002. Furthermore, the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased rapidly, particularly in LMICs and middle-income countries including South Africa.