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Published in Sports Management 2014 issue 1

Wheelchair Racing Academy appointed as SAPCA sponsored charity

The University of Warwick Wheelchair Racing Academy has become The Sports and Play Construction Association’s (SAPCA) sponsored charity for 2014. Following the sporting success of London 2012 and The 2012 Paralympic Games, the charity has seen an unprecedented demand from differently able athletes who want to take part in wheelchair racing.

Since being established in 2011, it has offered training, coaching, support and real sporting opportunities for athletes of any ability or impairment, with 59 disabled athletes training with the academy since its launch and going on to represent local athletics club Coventry Godiva Harriers both in the UK and on the global stage.
SAPCA hopes to use its unique position within the sports and play construction industry to generate further support for this deserving charity and raise much needed funds to purchase new equipment and help in the cultivating of future paralympians.

The academy is recognised by British Athletics as one of four national hubs for wheelchair racing and is a member of Sported, a charity transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people through sport.

Members of the Wheelchair Racing Academy at the SAPCA AGM in January
Members of the Wheelchair Racing Academy at the SAPCA AGM in January

Sports Facility Show dates announced
for 2014

The next SAPCA show on sports facility funding, design, development and management is to be held at Warwickshire County Cricket Club on May 20th 2014.

The Sports Facility Show is a one-day event aimed at anyone involved in the development of sports facilities – from sports clubs and schools to leisure operators and local authorities. Its aim is to broaden the experience and skill base of UK sports providers in an effort to refine construction standards and facilitate exceptional sports and play.
The event will be delivered in close cooperation with the Birmingham Sport & Physical Activity Partnership, whose role is to get more people, more active, more often.

A new feature for all three events will be a dedicated “Advice Centre”, manned throughout the day, which will provide support and information to delegates on different aspects of sports facility development.

The event will give those attending the latest insights into a range of topics. These include funding sources for sports facilities, how to make a funding application, designing multi-use games areas and how to cost-effectively renovate existing sports facilities. There will also be sessions on design, lighting, sports surface maintenance and procurement.

“We put on these invaluable shows to enrich the industry and ensure that UK facility owners, developers and managers are armed with the latest knowledge, skills and technology of the sports and play construction industry,” says SAPCA CEO Chris Trickey. “Why? To ensure that sports and play facilities are built to the highest standards and to promote a culture of ongoing interest in improving the industry.”

The first of three Sports Facility Shows in 2014 takes place on May 20th at Edgbaston cricket ground. Two more events will follow later this year – 17 June (Elland Road, Leeds) and 28 October (Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Motherwell).

Those interested are advised to book early by calling the dedicated booking line 024 7776 7226 or visiting www.sapca.org.uk.

Technical Committee to raise standards

SAPCA has launched a new specialist committee responsible for developing and overseeing the delivery of a technical programme.

Composed of experts from a variety of fields and a range of disciplines, the SAPCA Technical Committee will also be responsible for agreeing the association’s policies on technical issues pivotal to the industry, such as the construction standards embodied in SAPCA’s various codes of practice and coordinating the industry’s input into the development of relevant British and European standards.

The role of the Technical Committee will include the on-going development of SAPCA’s technical guidance, which provides valuable advice and information for those who are involved in the development of sports and play facilities projects across the marketplace.

The committee will also address important technical issues that are often central to the association’s relationships with sports governing bodies and will oversee the delivery of the regular technical meetings.

The first meeting of the committee was held on 25 November 2013 under the chairmanship of Bill Pomfret, managing director of Thornton Sports’ synthetic grass manufacturing division, Nordon.

Pomfret said: “SAPCA’s technical programme plays a vital role in the association’s work to raise standards of sports and play facilities.”

Commitee chair Bill Pomfret
Commitee chair Bill Pomfret

Beyond the legacy of London 2012:

Why participation is up, people are more engaged and sporting standards are higher

At SAPCA’s recent Annual Conference a host of industry experts gave their views on the lasting legacy of The 2012 Games.

Decades ahead
Emma Boggis, head of the Cabinet Office’s Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Unit, offered a number of encouraging statistics to SAPCA members.

“The Games succeeded in creating an ongoing legacy in four key areas,” she explained. “They visibly supported sport and healthy living, boosted economic growth in the UK, added an emphasis on the importance of community engagement and aided in the regeneration of East London.”

“In the Inspired by 2012 report July 2013 Jacques Rogge said: ‘The London 2012 Games have definitively served as a catalyst for development and improvements, both tangible and intangible, which would otherwise have taken decades to achieve. There is no doubt that the citizens of London and Great Britain will benefit from the Games for a long time to come. ‘

“The Games have sparked countless initiatives, such as Get Set, aimed at encouraging sports participation in schools. There are monetary benefits too. The GREAT Campaign aims to secure £11bn of economic benefit from trade and investment by 2016 and a further £2bn from increased tourism by 2015.”

World-class athletes and expertise
Andrew Bacchus, head of Global Sports Projects for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) built on Emma’s insights with a special presentation on The Export Legacy for Global Sports Projects.

“London 2012 showed that Britain not only has world-class athletes but also the world-class expertise, knowledge and innovation to deliver the most high profile event in the world on time and on budget,” he enthused.

“The UK economy has already seen a £11.06bn trade and investment boost from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, one year into a four-year programme of activity and events.”

Maintaining momentum
While the UK is so far reaping the benefits of The Games insofar as an increase in sports participation, funding, investment and community interest, Chris Trickey, CEO of SAPCA, stresses that the race is far from over.

“We’ve taken huge strides towards achieving sporting greatness through the 2012 Games, but we need to think of this triumph in terms of running a marathon, not a sprint. While the Games undoubtedly caused a huge surge in interest in sports, it’s up to key decision makers in the industry to ensure that momentum is maintained. We need to be doing all we can to increase participation, maximize funding and reinvigorate interest. For the legacy of the 2012 Games to be ongoing, so must our efforts.”

The London 2012 Olympic Games were successful in visibly supporting sport in the UK
The London 2012 Olympic Games were successful in visibly supporting sport in the UK
Emma Boggis at the conference
Emma Boggis at the conference

Forthcoming Presentations

The following presentations can be found on the SAPCA website: www.sapca.org.uk:

- The Legacy of London 2012. Speaker: Emma Boggis, Cabinet Office

- Commonwealth Games Legacy. Speaker: Graham Finnie, sportscotland

- The Export Legacy for Global Sports Projects. Speaker: Andrew Bacchus, UKTI

- Funding for Sports Facilities in the Education Sector. Speaker: Karen Wolland, wctd limited

- How to Accelerate The Growth of Your Business. Speakers: Nigel, Knapp, Francis Christie Ltd

- Developing Standards for the Performance of Shockpads. Speaker: Martin Laidler, Trocellen GmbH

- Football Facility Strategy and Funding. Speaker: Mark Pover, The FA

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