ASA WELCOMES COMMUNITY SPORT COMMITMENT
ASA Chief Executive David Sparkes has welcomed a Government
commitment to building a world class community sports infrastructure
as part of the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Rt Hon James
Purnell today announced a review of Sport England's strategy
to deliver sporting infrastructure as being the starting point
of creating improved community sport.
The Minister outlined the DCMS commitment to community sport
as part of a promise that was made when winning the bid to
host the 2012 Olympics - to create a world class sporting
nation.
With success already achieved within the school sport system
and elite sport system, the Minister has called for all involved
to work together to ensure the community sport element of
the promise is met.
"We need to create a world class community sports system.
And that can be one of the biggest legacies of that great
day in Singapore: to create an Olympic generation, to make
sure that when people of all ages get inspired to take up
sport there are clubs, facilities and coaches there to welcome
them," said Mr Purnell.
"There should be a clear focus on sport development
and sports participation. We will start the process with a
review of Sport England strategy to focus the delivery of
an excellent sporting infrastructure from the grass roots
up.
"That means creating excellent national governing bodies,
clubs, coaches and volunteers supported by the investment
we've already made in facilities."
Welcoming the announcement, Sparkes said: "The ASA welcomes
the Rt Hon James Purnell's leadership in this important area
of creating world class community sport.
"This commitment from all involved will build on the
work and successes to date of the Youth Sport Trust, in terms
of school sport, and UKSport, at the elite end of the sporting
spectrum.
"As the aquatic governing body, we're looking forward
to making swimming's contribution to the review process to
deliver together a sporting infrastructure that will meet
the needs of a nation as we move towards 2012 and beyond."
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