Government publishes annual progress report on ‘Sporting Future’
Sport strategy focuses on tackling inactivity and strengthening sport at every level – from grassroots to elite
The government has published its first annual progress report on its new sport strategy that aims to get the nation more active for the positive impact it has on people’s health, local communities and the economy.
‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’ was published in December 2015 and set out a new government vision for sport concentrating on five key outcomes – physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, individual development, social and community development and economic development.
The annual update highlights progress made such as:
- Sustained success at the elite level with Team GB and ParalympicsGB incredible medal haul in Rio, backed by National Lottery and government investment
- The UK cementing its reputation as one of the leading destinations for hosting major sporting events in the world - landing the rights to host the World Road Race Championships in 2019 and Rugby League World Cup in 2021
- A new Code for Sports Governance published that organisations that want public funding will have to adhere to
- The Premier League honouring their commitment to at least double their investment in grassroots football with at least £100 million a year of funding
- Sport England’s new strategy underway focusing on tackling inactivity with a new £120 million fund and supporting children in sport outside of school from the age of five.
- A new coaching and volunteering strategy from Sport England to encourage more people to get involved
- The new Active Lives survey has been launched that will track how active people are. The inaugural survey showed that 60.7 per cent of adults, aged 16 and above, in England are hitting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of hitting 150 minutes a week. Our focus will now be on the 40 per cent who are not.
Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said:
I am delighted with the progress we have made in the first year of our new sport strategy and the support we have received in putting it into place from the sport and physical activity sectors. There is much more for us to do though in encouraging more people to get involved in sport, make improvements on governance and help sport organisations become more financially sustainable in the future. But I am confident that working together we will continue to deliver the bold ambitions set out in our strategy.
This year the UK is to host more major sporting events on home soil that includes the Women’s Cricket World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy, and the World Athletics and ParaAthletics Championships.