Jersey Sport to be launched in April 2017

Tuesday 20 September 2016

The launch of a new governing body ‘Jersey Sport’ next year is designed to get more people involved in sport across the Island.

The Jersey Sport Shadow Board revealed their initial report today, which sets out to provide the framework for Jersey Sport, due to be launched in April 2017.

The report says: “The strategic development of sport in Jersey will increasingly require additional professionalism if it is to meet the challenges it faces and continues to thrive.    

“In Jersey, due to the extensive commitment of hundreds of volunteers, overall levels of participation in sport and physical activity are excellent.”

But the report says with the States under intense pressure to make savings, sport has to become more 'business-like' under its newly proposed governing body. 

The report says: “Numerous challenges do exist going forward, most notably fiscal challenges, with the realisation that sport cannot rely solely on current levels of States funding, let alone obtain States-funded investment for new initiatives. 

“With its future business orientation, Jersey Sport will have a major task in attracting funds for grant  purposes. In addition, Jersey Sport will be able to play a role in helping sports organisations and clubs in their approach to obtaining sponsorship. To be clear, the creation of Jersey Sport will not remove or reduce the need for public funding.”

The creation of Jersey Sport will be the umbrella organisation for the next 20 years on the Island and will be responsible for “an appropriate long term vision, the right direction and leadership and the right resources.”

Jersey Sport’s aims have been identified as increasing participation in sport across the whole population of the Island, underline the importance of sport in terms of health, education and community benefits and ensure greater cooperation around the calendar of sports events.

It will also seek to develop sport under one ‘umbrella’ organisation and help to develop the Island as a ‘destination of choice’ for sports events, training camps and sports tourism. 

The report concludes: “By establishing Jersey Sport and answering the call for change, sport in Jersey will have a new direction, new independence, a new commercial approach and a new future.”