The 2012 Olympics was promoted as a way to get the nation installer. Now, the Culture Secretary wishes to make an elite and ax funds for other
Ministers have made a controversial U-turn in one of Britain’s Olympic key objectives for two million people across the country more physically active until 2012, so they can channel millions of pounds in producing world-class champions.
Culture Secretary James Purnell has dismayed senior sports figures, diluting plans to enlarge participation in sport means growing evidence of Britain’s expanding waistlines. He told them the priority now is to encourage excellence by plowing as much as £ 100 million a year in bodies such as the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union, which has lobbied hard for more money to train potential stars.
On Wednesday, the government will announce a cross-government review of sport and physical activity that will spend four months to examine ways to combat obesity, making people more active. But the change has caused sharp disagreement within Whitehall as senior health officials believe Purnell, with the support of the Treasury, is seeking the NHS to pick up the bill of ability.
Under his plans, a series of popular projects that currently attract funding will no longer be classified as sports. These include recreational cycling, walking, going to the gym, dance and yoga.
Sport England, which manages public monies for the sport and led the drive for greater participation, is being asked to present a strategy that involves redefining what constitutes a sport.
The objective of making the two million people to resume physical activity in 2012 has been regularly cited by ministers, but it is being quietly ignored. Official rates of participation in sport are likely to fall by at least one million people, while the most popular recreational activities - cycling and hiking-will no longer count. Since April, the number of bases clubs and coaches who can win lottery money to support his work will also fall.
In documents seen by The Observer, Purnell makes clear to the officials and sporting bodies that it does not see its role to encourage participation. He said a meeting of the Progress think-tank in London that his priority was sporting excellence and putting in place an infrastructure of world class sports to do this.
One audience member said: “He described it as like the base of a pyramid, with the fund being about health, fitness and getting people to put their lives on activity, but he made it clear that he does not see this as his job. He gave the example of 52-year-old woman, who could become installer by doing shorter, but said persuading her walk was definitely not the role of government. ”
But his message is at odds with the stated 10 days ago by Gordon Brown, when he addressed a Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation through a video conference later posted on YouTube. He said: “The government has launched a challenge to the sport. We want another two million people active by 2012. It is our responsibility to ensure that women and girls represent at least half of the two million … It is a great opportunity. Let’s take you. ”
Targeting people to occupy sport was one of the main selling points of Britain’s Olympic bid and is the basis of the current warning for the event. A survey for Sport England showed that half the adult population does not take part in any kind of sport at all, with fewer than one in five women are doing enough to stay healthy.
A senior sports administrator, who asked not to be named, the guilty ‘blazerati’ and lobbyists working for sporting bodies for the change of strategy: “The whole orientation is now towards giving more money to the sport of organs such as FA and The RFU. Basically, it is only going to sports where you use a tape or are in a team. We have all been working since 2005 on the grounds that a Labor government sports was about broadening participation, not to close it down. ”
It is understood that the amount of extra money goes into developing talent could be as much as £ 100 million a year for three years. Sport England currently receives £ 150 million per year, half of the Treasury and half of the lottery, but this was reduced because the Olympics budget has increased.
Purnell has enlisted the support of Andy Burnham, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to ensure an inter-governmental review of physical activity. A government source said: “James wants to involve people in support of sport for sport. Of course it improves fitness and has other advantages, but he thinks it also teaches other skills. He has concerns with Sport England, and he wants to concentrate more on working with government agencies such as the FA and the Netball Association and others to provide adequate training facilities and coaches’.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport voice said: “We have been in talks with Sport England on how we can strengthen community sports. We want to improve the links between schools and sports clubs to ensure that people continue to play sport along the their lives, and and not obstacles stand in the way of talent ‘.
via:observer.guardian.co.uk
November 25th, 2007 | No Comments »
