Organisers all set for sports development conference to kick-off

Not only do spectators and sportsmen and women at Inch Park Community Sports Club have a breathtaking view of Arthur’s seat – the remains of a volcano located at the heart of Edinburgh, UK – but thanks to fresh developments, they can now also enjoy top-notch pitches, a spruced up modern clubhouse, and landscaped grounds.

These changes – completed at a cost of £1.6 million – aim to cater for and entice the whole sporting community, from top-class to recreational athletes, to come together and use the grounds.

In the early years of this project Lismore Rugby Football Club took the lead, before they teamed up with South Edinburgh Youth Football Club and Edinburgh South Cricket Club in driving forward their vision of a club for the whole community.

This community club, according to Louise Martin, Chair of sportscotland, the agency responsible for the development of sport and physical recreation in Scotland, is a shining example of the sort of ‘best practice’ project which will be promoted at the upcoming Third Commonwealth Sports Development Conference, which Glasgow is playing host to between 3 and 4 June 2010.

The primary focus of this conference is to look at ways of boosting the ability of communities, clubs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) throughout the Commonwealth’s 54 member countries, which promote sport in one form or another.

‘Power of sport’

“Our aim is to create a greater understanding of the power of sport and physical activity and help those involved to realise the contribution it can make to community cohesion and development,” said Ms Martin. As Chair of sportscotland, she sits on the organising committee for the conference, which shapes the programme and chooses the contributors at the event.

Speaking to Commonwealth News, Ms Martin explained some of the building blocks she believes need to be put in place in clubs, communities and NGOs if the conference’s theme of ‘building capacity over a sustained period of time’ is to be achieved.

Among these building blocks are requirements to “provide a safe, fun environment that will encourage more people to participate in sport; create homes for sports clubs; train and develop an inspired, skilled and motivated workforce; and – crucially – provide affordable access to facilities.”

Supporting local clubs

“It is also important to support local sports clubs and other sporting organisations in developing strong administration and governance,” said Ms Martin, who is also the Honorary Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which organises the four-yearly Commonwealth Games.

This conference is attracting over 200 policy-makers, sports practitioners and fund raisers from both Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries. Notable attendees are Bjørn Omar Evju, from the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports, and Annemarie Elsom, from Comic Relief (a UK-based charity).

Speakers include Fabio Segura, an Investment Manager with LGT Venture Philanthropy, who will examine criteria philanthropists look at when considering whether or not to invest in organisations which promote sport as a development tool. Another speaker, Loïc Comolli, Director of Client and Investor Relations with Non-Profit Enterprise and Self-sustainability Team, will share examples of social entrepreneurial investment in programmes that use sport to develop communities.

Preparing for Commonwealth Games

As well as hosting this conference, Glasgow is also gearing up to welcome tens of thousands of sports fans in 2014, who will descend on the Scottish city for the Commonwealth Games.

“Hosting the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to raise our sights as a nation,” said Ms Martin. “Improving Scotland’s health is the overarching theme of the Glasgow 2014 Legacy Plan, which aims to empower and support individuals and communities to take responsibility for improving their own health with support from local infrastructure.”

She continued: “By helping communities in this way, there is potential to ease the economic burden on local authorities with local people taking on board the responsibility of operating and managing local sports facilities and delivering local sport and physical activity.”

But for the next few weeks the Sports Development Conference is the centre of focus in Glasgow. It will be officially opened by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba.

Speaking ahead of the conference, she said: “Although fitness is an obvious benefit of sport, just as important but often unrecognised, is its ability to bring people together. By promoting clubs, communities and NGOs which are involved in sport, this conference commendably draws on the ability of sport to unite people and communities. To see this in practice you need look no further than clubs like Inch Park.”

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• Commonwealth Games