Massive £431m package for sport

The 2004 Spending Review will bring a massive £431 million from central government for sport over the three-year period 2005 to 2008.

This represents an annual funding rise of 31% from £118 million in 2004-05 to over £155 million in 2007-08.

The government says the finance package shows that it remains committed to improving sport right across the country by investing more money in school, community and elite sport than ever before.

The deal sets out the funding situation for existing sports bodies and includes money for new sports initiatives including a possible National Sports Foundation.

These include:

• An improved deal for school sports, with more cash being invested in giving children access to a range of quality sports during their school years;
• New money earmarked for new sports initiatives to boost participation, volunteering and facilities;
• A further £6 million invested in the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) - helping give young talented sports stars the best possible chance to make it to the top.

Announcing the funding Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell in a written statement to parliament, said: "This settlement represents a good result for sport. Overall, It will release over £431m for sport between 2005-06 and 2007-08 from the Exchequer, and will see annual funding rise 31% from £118m in 2004-05 to over £155m in 2007-08.

"This cash will help strengthen the grassroots of sport, with a renewed emphasis on transforming the crucial areas of school and community sport. It will also enable us to identify and nurture a new generation of sporting champions as we build up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the possibility of a London Olympics in 2012."

Following the 2004 Spending Review the Department of Culture Media and Sport has allocated over £429 million for sport for the period 2005-06 to 2007-08.

Today, the Prime Minister Tony Blair announced a new package of funding to support school sport. Of the £431 million that will be spent by the Department of Culture Media and Sport on sport over the next three years, approximately £133.5 million will be spent on directly supporting the aims set out in the school sport announcement.

(SP)