Lottery Grant for Sport
Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson has announced that the National Lottery will fund Sport by £50 million a year until 2012, as part of reforms in order to secure a strong legacy after hosting the London Games.
Backed by order of Parliament, the focus of the plan is to “deliver a highly focused sports legacy from London 2010″ Robertson said, after delivering his vision to executives of the Olympic sports bodies at the central London headquarters of the British Olympic Association.
A unified sports structure will also be set up, which will help maintain this priority of a long lasting legacy, focused on community sport and facilities. Robertson added: “The introduction of a new Major Sports Events Bill, is anticipated to ease the difficulty of securing and hosting large sporting events”.
Aided by an order placed before Parliament after the summer break, the legal changes will mean an increase of 4% to 20% for sports shares of the lottery, which equates to an increase of approximately £50 million a year by 2012. Robertson couldn’t immediately confirm the number of pipeline commitments – the money will however be used to drive the community sports legacy.
The three main organizations which spearhead British sport, UK Sport, Sport England, Youth Sport are to unite under one umbrella, whilst still retaining their individual areas of expertise, “in the best interest of British sport, aiding participants from cradle to grave” according to Robertson who added that a different skill was needed to put an athlete on the medal podium, compared to children competing in school sports.
Robertson declared his commitment to achieving this, adding that “Little quangos will be eliminated, along with squabbling over territory. We are very focused on having one main organization which embraces three separate divisions, who retain their sporting roles and responsibilities”.
The lead in Olympic sport would be achieved within the restructure by the organization fulfilling UK Sport’s commitments, which include funding elite athletes, also Olympians and Paralympians. Robertson admitted that as shadow Olympic Minister since 2005, he had been highly critical of Sport England, which achieves services and funding to sport in England. He felt it had been inefficient, and far too political in the past, yet the current management team had turned the tables to deliver an “incredible achievement.” Sport England will deliver Robertson’s vision.
The inclusion of a statutory Major Sports Events Bill will elevate the image of Britain in bidding rivalry to host high profile, often profitable sports events, predicted Robinson. Additionally it will give organizations confidence that commitments made during the bidding campaign will actually gel.
School children will be able to look forward to an Olympic and Paralympic style sports event, which will promote and encourage competitive sport both within and between schools. Robertson said, “School and community sport will be boosted by these changes, increase the flow of lottery money and make more effective the manner in which our major sports bodies work together. When considering hosting major sports events, this will promote the image of the UK at the head of the world league, which is a critical consideration, especially when the UK is bidding to be successful in the 2018 World Cup.
Source acknowledged with thanks: Press Association/guardian.co.uk 10/06/10
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