The Isle of Man Sports Council has
offered Key Sport status to seven local Governing Bodies:
Athletics
Cycling Football Gymnastics
Hockey
Swimming Tennis
In announcing the successful
organisations, the Council is implementing one of the recommendations contained
in the Sport & Recreation Strategy 2002-2012 which proposed the designation
of Community Key Sports. A list of criteria was drawn up for attaining this
status and all recognised sports were invited to apply.
The sports were required to complete
a comprehensive questionnaire and attend an interview with the Councils Sports
Liaison Sub-Committee. The criteria incorporated a wide variety of issues
including appeal to young people, Administration, Coaching, Child Protection,
Insurance, opportunities for disabled persons and a strong development
structure.
This process gave the sports a
self-analysis opportunity and many have already started to restructure and
formulate new development plans.
The Councils Sports Liaison
Sub-Committee has spent considerable time analysing each of the fourteen
applications in depth and each sport who applied will receive a report detailing
strengths and areas for improvement.
The designated Key Sports will be
required to establish a Development Group which will formulate plans and will be
able to request special funding from Council for specific projects. This will
be financed from a new fund established in line with the Sport & Recreation
Strategy, over and above the financial support already provided by the Council
to Governing Bodies.
It should also be pointed out that
other sports will be able to apply for inclusion in the Key Sports Programme in
the future. The Sports, which applied and were unsuccessful, have been given
feedback and encouragement to keep developing further and it is expected that
some will reapply at the next opportunity, which will be 1 September
2005.
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