SPORTS - archive item May 2007
Work is continuing apace on planning and delivering the priorities identified by the Kent Campaign's sport sectoral task group:
September sees the official launch of the Kent Trust for Youth Sport, an event to include an auction to raise funding to support our most promising sports people
Discussions are taking place regarding possible sponsorship of the Kent School Games
Kent's FANS (Free Access for National Sports People) scheme has been refreshed to include discounts for members off the cost of sports equipment and clothing
A bid has been submitted to the Regional Sports Board to continue work already underway for the Kent Elite Coach Mentoring Project
Funding has been identified by Kent County Council to support upskilled and greater number of volunteers, including sports volunteers, in the county, particularly for large events. The County Council is working closely with the Kent Campaign for the 2012 Games and volunteer centres in Kent on this projects
The South East Group for the 2012 Games is currently short listing possible Pre Games Training Camp venues, for submission to the London Organising Committee for the Committee to then make its own final shortlist. The Kent Campaign's sport sectoral task group submitted over 120 different venues to the South East Region. As we know that the Region received just under 300 in total, Kent venues have been strongly represented. As previously stated on this website, Kent pioneered a cluster approach to Pre Games Training camp submissions, that was then adopted by a number of areas across the U.K., and endorsed by the London Organising Committee
Kent is increasingly being seen as a potential host for a number of international level sports events, and this is set to increase as we approach, and go beyond, 2012. Events planned for the next few months include the Tour de France, World Series Hand Cycling, World Cup Archery, National Visually Impaired Judo Championships and Ladies National Open Golf Championship.
Additional funding has been secured to promote paralympic sport within the county
Discussions with external partners to lead on resourcing curling, archery and swimming sports development officers are continuing, and looking positive
Kent's County Sports Partnership has drawn up a 'workforce development plan' that supports the county to now bid for further regional funding for club, coach and voluntary posts
Working with Kent's Department for Public Health, some early discussions have taken place regarding a campaign focusing on raising physical activity participation rates in adults
For any more information on any of these activities, please email info@kentsport.org