SPORT UK tennis in decline: LTA chief


Michael Downey, CEO of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), has said the game in Britain is in decline, opining that the association needs a new approach to get young people invested in the sport. Downey said he plans to


halt the slide over the course of the next four years, adding that the fundamental problem British tennis faces is that the sport is in decline in terms of quality and numbers. “T at’s a fact a lot of people


have trouble accepting but the reality is the truth,” said Downey, speaking to The Guardian. “We had nearly a million monthly players back in 2008-2009, and this year we had 694,000. On the weekly side, we’ve gone from 530,000 down to 384,000. So it’s tough to say our sport is growing. It is not growing.” Downey added that most tennis fans use


LTA chief Michael Downey says British tennis is in need of a shake-up


in the parks,” said Downey, who wants to use a bottom-up strategy to rebuild the British game. Downey said that previously the LTA


the sport as a summer pastime, while the average age of the nation’s 2,700 tennis clubs is 45-plus. “We think the growth is going to be


might have ignored grassroots venues such as parks and favoured tennis clubs to drive up membership: “I looked at the old blue- print. It was all about high performance,” he said. “T is is about meat and potatoes.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=8T3q8


Work starts on on Belle Vue Sports Village


Developer ISG has started work on the £11m Belle Vue Sports Village develop- ment in Manchester, which will bring two interna- tional standard facilities to the north west of England, bolstering the city’s interna- tional sporting credentials. The combination of the


National Speedway Stadium and National Basketball Performance Centre, as well as community leisure facili- ties, is set to transform this strategic area of Manchester. Leisure facilities for


ambitions FULFIL


The new Active IQ Level 3 Diploma in Physical Activity, Fitness and Exercise Science (Tech Level) will equip students with the level of knowledge, skill and competence they need to turn their dreams into reality.


Manchester’s Belle Vue Sports Village will provide vital facilities


both community and elite users will be provided, including refurbishment of the existing leisure centre on site and two new fl oodlit 3G artifi cial grass sports pitches. With a 2,000-seat match court, the bas-


ketball centre will be the hub for England Basketball’s national teams and administration. The 6,000 capacity stadium, has been


designed by architects AFL, and will be home to the Belle Vue Aces team. T ere will be a fi rst fl oor hospitality area, function rooms, bar area and VIP suite. Within the track, a


© CYBERTREK 2015


3G artifi cial pitch will be for the use of a local school and community. A larger pitch will also be constructed at the Sports Village for the wider community and Rugby League. “East Mancheter is already an interna-


tionally recognised destination for sport and leisure and Belle Vue Sports Village will only add to that excellent reputation,” said Manchester City Council councillor Jeff Smith. “It will also stand out on its own and help to transform this part of the city.” ” Details: http://lei.sr?a=B4x2G


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