Long-term strategy needed to encourage sporting take-up

LEGACY.

We heard lots of talk about it in 2012 when London hosted the Olympics – 'inspire a generation' they said.

It was the feel-good event of the summer, engaging and inspiring.

But that is not where it ends for this type of sporting event.

Huge sums of money were ploughed into the London Games, £9.3bn, whether that was in new facilities or funding the athletes taking part.

And all the time one of the key justifications was its legacy – the idea was that this interest in sport would be built on and taken forward to boost participation numbers and with it the health of the nation.

There are still government reports being produced reviewing the long-term legacy, the commitments made and how they were being lived up to.

There have been some successes, but no joined-up thinking, no national strategy for sport and inactivity. Adult participation numbers have fallen in 23 of the 26 Olympic sports.

Tomorrow, the States will take to the chamber for its first foray into the world of debating and on the agenda is a report about hosting the 2021 Island Games.

There is no talk of legacy in this report, plenty on how to fund the Games bid.

It wants £750,000 of States funding out of £1.6m. it believes it will cost to host the Games.

That is £300,000 less than Jersey spent last year.

Of course, there are capital costs as well, which get a bit of a broad-brush treatment – £1m. to resurface the athletics track and maintain the Garenne Stand, car parks and floodlights which the report states would have to be done anyway.

The use of a lottery to help fund the Games is a welcome way to not only boost the finances but also the engagement.

There is no doubt that there will be a huge wave of positivity the event will generate, but it is vital that this momentum in the lead-up and after the Games is taken advantage of.

When this States report talks about the 2003 Games it focuses on its physical legacy, the facilities that were built and those that were upgraded.

They claim these 'no doubt helped create momentum in the development of other standalone facilities' before listing the Indoor Cricket Centre, the Table Tennis Association Headquarters, developing the KGV and the new hockey facilities.

This is perhaps stretching credibility somewhat and typical of a States that likes to associate itself with the positive achievements of others – for starters, cricket and hockey aren't even Island Games sports.

It can only be hoped that once this stage of the process, the logistics – including how to accommodate so many athletes with falling bed numbers – and funding is sorted there will be some real attention paid to the legacy.

This needs to include a good look at participation and how the States and the sports themselves have taken advantage of the opportunity this type of event creates. That requires reviews with hard facts, not just sweeping statements as we see in the current report before the States about the last Games providing a tremendous opportunity for islanders to get involved in sport at a very high standard and encouraging others to take it up.

This process should also act to help focus minds on the upcoming Sport and Activity Strategy being produced by Education, Sport & Culture.

That is due to come to the States next year and provides the perfect platform to finally have a broad look at this arena, including things like how money is spent, how much, why and the results of that. Hopefully it will also quantify things like the economic benefits of sport in general, including the preventative health side.

We know from this latest Billet item that the strategy will look at funding mechanisms for sports facilities because in paying for the Games, they will exhaust the Sports Loan Fund.

There is about £188,000 unallocated in that pot, but it has been six years since anyone has requested a loan – which, according to the report, is because the terms attached to it are so unattractive.

The fact that a pot of money has just sat there doing nothing for so long sums up perfectly where sport has really been on the States' radar.

This is an amazing opportunity – one that is not just about elite sport either, although that can act as the catalyst.

It should provide the platform to boost activity in all the age groups and collect data and statistics to benchmark the island against other jurisdictions.

Head out early on a Sunday morning and you can see that there is already a strong basis for making active lifestyles the norm.

The States of today is very different to that which funded the 2003 Island Games. It should realise that to ensure success there needs to be follow up, review and long-term coordination and strategy, not just basking in the light of reflective glory on the playing field every generation or so.

ISLAND GAMES 2021

... how the money side of the bid stacks up

Income:

States £750,000

Sponsorship £750,000

Competitor/spectator accreditation fees £100,000

Total £1.6m.

Expenses:

Administration (salaries and office costs) £165,000

Communications (results, media centre etc) £150,000

Events (opening and closing ceremonies, AGMs, Games visits) £185,000

Transport £200,000

Equipment (bleachers, tents, toilets, podiums) £150,000

Volunteers, medals, gifts, flags, welcome packs £125,000

Fees (insurance, Games fees, IIGA costs etc) £155,000

Sports and officials £345,000

Contingency £125,000

Total £1.6m.