new ministers and government want to
achieve in the area of sport, but at the
same time we need to respond in a way
that doesn’t blow us off course,” he
says. “Our key objective, which all politi-
cal parties have already signed up to,
is to work through the national govern-
ing bodies of sport (NGBs) to deliver
our sporting targets.”
When asked whether he shares the
industry’s concern of a possible funding
drought in sport provision post election
and particularly post 2012, he laughs:
D
N
A
“Not really. I believe that sport is worthy
L
G
N
of investment regardless of the econom- T E
R
ic circumstances – in fact arguably more
O
P
: S
so during difficult social times because
P
I
C
of the positive role it plays within society.
I think most politicians get that in a Sport England has been tracking sports participation for three consecutive years
big way. However, if budgets are tight
then we’ll respond in a positive manner Sport England is measuring participa- says: “The survey is very robust but if
and certainly won’t back ourselves tion through The Active People annual something comes out that hints that the
into a corner – but I’m pretty optimistic survey, which measures how many survey can be improved and tweaked
about the future.” people participate, who they are, what with a slightly different methodology
sports they do and how this varies across then we’d do it – that’s for sure.”
Measuring participation the country. Now in its third year, the re- AP3 revealed that boxing, table
It’s a little over a year since Sport search company Ipsos MORI interviews tennis, canoeing and netball are cur-
England chief executive Jennie Price an- 192,000 people by phone each year – rently meeting their targets for the
nounced that the funding body would 500 in each local authority – and asks first year, with cycling and athlet-
be investing £480m in 46 NGBs to devel- what sports were played within the ics reporting a combined increase of
op grassroots potential. Since then, the previous month and at what intensity. more than 240,000 weekly participants.
NGBs have drawn up strategies to widen The latest findings of Active People 3 Meanwhile, football and swimming
sport participation, advice and support (AP3) (see p44) – released in December both failed to report any growth of
has been offered where needed and 2009 – revealed that 6.82 million people participation among disabled people
funds handed out. now play sport at least three times a and women were also down.
week, an overall increase of 115,000 Commenting on these results, Lewis
Far left and below: Richard Lewis and compared with the results of the previ- says: “Out of 46 sports there will be
Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe ous year’s Active People 2 survey. some that will always find it hard to
promote softball to a group of young- Critics have questioned the process of hit target and, given time, some that
sters at a Sport Unlimited event capturing this information, but Lewis would. If all 46 were hitting targets and
Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 17
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