Thursday 2 August 2007
£6.5million will be invested in Scottish sport to increase participation, improve elite performances and deliver world-class facilities, announced today.
The Communities and Sport Minister said that this announcement underlines the new government’s commitment to the provision of first class sporting facilities in Scotland.
The Scottish government, through the national sports agency sportscotland, is backing Glasgow City Council’s £14.2million Scotstoun Stadium project with £4.5m, under the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy.
The existing facilities will be upgraded to provide a municipal stadium - primarily for athletics – with provision for rugby and improved backroom facilities.
Scotstoun is a key competition and training venue included in Scotland’s 2014 Commonwealth Games bid. It will host squash and table tennis events.
It is the latest of ten projects to receive stage two approval under the Scottish government’s £50 million National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy, which includes £21.2m from sportscotland’s Lottery Sports Fund.
The Minister also confirmed that sportscotland will be investing over £2million in 11 sports governing bodies for 2007/08 to increase participation and improve performance.
Mr Maxwell joined Julia Bracewell, Chair of sportscotland, at Scotstoun Stadium today to see youngsters given an introduction to athletics as part of Scottish Athletics’ summer programme.
The Minister for Communities and Sport said: “The Scotstoun Stadium project is a great example of the world-class facilities we want to deliver throughout Scotland for everyone to use.
“Financial backing for our sport governing bodies is essential if we are to achieve our goal of encouraging everyone in Scotland to discover and develop their sporting skills.
“This cash boost will help increase participation and improve performances in Scottish sport.”
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “Today’s announcement once again highlights our continued commitment to Scottish sport at all levels.
“We support all of Scotland’s sports governing bodies with advice and guidance in a range of matters from facilities, coaching and governance to equity and child protection.
“We continually strive to ensure that sport in Scotland is given every opportunity to grow and reach our shared goals of increased participation and improved performance. Quality accessible facilities are vital to achieve this.”
Councillor Archie Graham, the Executive Member for Culture and Sport at Glasgow City Council, said: "This is a tremendous boost for grass-roots athletics and the continuing development of world-class facilities as Glasgow heads into the home straight, bidding for the Commonwealth Games in 2014."
Geoff Wightman, Chief Executive of scottishathletics said: “There continues to be a rise in participation in all athletics grassroots programmes with exciting modern resources available to schools and communities.
“Every year in Scotland alone, thousands of children are introduced to the sport through these dynamic athletics programmes, working closely with our partners in local authorities and clubs. Thanks to the sportscotland funding, this trend is set to continue.”
- The £4.5 million investment in Scotstoun Stadium is made up of £2.67m Exchequer funding and £1.83m Lottery funding.
- The aim of the Scottish government’s NRSFS is to develop a network of multi-sport facilities across Scotland, including a national indoor arena and two versatile municipal stadia. The facilities will serve the geographical areas covered by the Area Institutes of Sport, namely: Central; East of Scotland; Grampian; Highlands; Tayside & Fife; and West of Scotland.
- £2,110,741 will be distributed in 2007/2008 to 11 governing bodies: Scottish Athletics, the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Scottish Squash, Table Tennis Scotland, Children 1st, Scottish Fencing Limited, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, the Scottish Canoe Association, the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association, Scottish Karate Governing Body and Netball Scotland.
- Scottish Athletics summer programme is held annually in 27 of Scotland’s local authority areas, run in partnership with councils, athletics clubs and schools. Last year over 4,500 youngsters took part.