Thursday 9 November 2000
sportscotland has welcomed today's endorsement by the Scottish Executive of the important role sport plays in Scottish society through their announcement of additional funds for developing sport.
sportscotland Chairman, Alastair Dempster, said, "Sport and physical recreation make a hugely significant contribution to the fabric of Scottish society, from improving the health of our population to educational benefits, increasing social inclusion, economic development and tourism.
"Through the national strategy, Sport 21, we have a clear path ahead for creating a more active Scotland. The recent Sport 21 Review has shown that while significant progress has been made over the last two and a half years there is still much to do and no room for complacency.
"Today's announcement of an additional £2m annually, which amounts to a 20% increase in our funding from the Scottish Executive, comes on top of proposals for £86m to support sport-related initiatives through the New Opportunities Fund. Together they are a welcome step toward achieving our ambition of getting more people to be more active more often.
"The additional resources will allow us to accelerate programmes to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or economic circumstances, can enjoy the benefits which sport can bring.
"Given growing concerns about the state of children's health, it is vital that children have access to regular sport and physical education. The increased government funds, coupled with an extra £500,000 p.a. from the Lottery Fund, will allow us to speed up our work, especially in primary schools, and create stronger links between clubs and schools through extending the School Sports Co-ordinator initiative.
"We look forward to working with health, education and local authorities in planning and implementing our new programmes.
"Sport plays a key role in revitalising communities and I am therefore particularly pleased that we will also be able to direct an additional £500,000 p.a. of Lottery Funds towards launching a new scheme to work with all 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships over the next three years."
- Following today's announcement of an additional £2m annually over the next three years, sportscotland will now receive £12.5m from the Scottish Executive as its annual grant-in-aid budget.
- In addition, sportscotland administers the distribution of £23m annually through the sportscotland Lottery Fund for a range of sports-related capital and revenue projects including: the School Sports Co-ordinator scheme which currently operates in 250 secondary schools; the Scottish Institute of Sport to develop our most talented athletes; and the TOP Play/TOP Sport programme aimed at putting specialist sports equipment into primary schools.