Published: 19 March 2007
Setback to Community Sport Legacy
Derek Mapp, Chair of Sport England, has issued a statement regarding the government’s decision to make a further claim on lottery funding for the 2012 Olympics.
He said:
“Our support for the 2012 Games is unquestioned and we know the Government has had to make tough choices.
However, the decision to divert a further £55.9 million of Sport England’s share of lottery income between 2009 and 2012 to fund the 2012 Olympic/Paralympic Games is a cut too far and seriously endangers the creation of a sporting legacy from the 2012 Games.
This cut comes on top of Sport England’s share of the already agreed £410 million Olympic lottery contribution.
The real cut is in fact far higher.
Our target is to lever in £2 for every £1 of Sport England investment and we are currently levering in almost £3. So the true loss to community sport is £223 million.
The 2012 bid had at its heart a promise to build a legacy from the Games by increasing participation in sport and boosting community sport across the country.
It is difficult to see how such a significant reduction in funding for these activities can be squared with the clear commitments the Government has already made about the wider benefits the Games will bring.
Unless new funding is secured we will have to reduce down our 2012 ambition of increasing participation across two million people.
We estimate that the best case scenario would result in 186,000 less people doing sport.
Given the partnership funding we lever in the true reduction to the ambition is likely to be significantly higher.
Inactivity costs the country £8.2 billion a year so this shortfall will cost the country dear.
This cut is a real blow to community sport in England. No other country has succeeded in delivering a sporting legacy to their Games.
This decision makes our attempt harder."
Supporting statements
Mike Catt, England Rugby Union Captain:
"Obviously this has been a difficult decision for the Government.
Hosting the Olympics will bring huge benefits to the country. However, I am disappointed that Sport England and community sport has had to pay the price for the additional costs.
This will have a real impact on the drive get more and more people doing sport".
Richard Yule, Chief Executive of the English Table Tennis Association:
"An increase in sports participation is the most important legacy that the London Games can bring and was at the heart of the vision expressed so powerfully by Seb Coe in Singapore.
This cut in funding to community sport will impact on the ability of National Governing bodies to capitalise on the once in a lifetime motivational impact of a home Olympics to deliver an increase in participation through their clubs and volunteers.”
Impact of cutting £55.9 million from Sport England's Lottery income:
Participation
In terms of their ambition to increase participation across two million people by 2012 they estimate the impact of cutting £55.9 million from their lottery income would result in a cut of 186,000 participants.
Facilities
£1m capital investment buys 14 multi-use games facilities or 16 pitches or 1 six lane floodlit athletics track, based on the Building Cost Information Service Price List.
So a cut of £55.9 million would equate to 782 multi-use games facilities or 894 pitches or 55 six lane floodlit athletics tracks.
Coaches
Based on data from the Community Club Development Programme - £1m of their investment delivers: 3,142 participants, 420 club members; 66 coaches and 123 volunteers.
So a cut of £55.9 million equates to the loss of 3,630 coaches.
Further information
Sport England
Building Cost Information Service Price List
Community Club Development Programme
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