Soapbox Ian Cotter: Derby Sport Forum wants to play its part in delivering the Olympic legacy
LAST year we had the best summer of sport this country has ever witnessed, with the greatest show on earth, the Olympics and the Paralympics, taking place.
The buzz word before, during and after these magnificent sporting extravaganzas was legacy – how to build on this success and inspire future generations.
Organisations at national and local level have been setting out their stalls about what the legacy should be and how it can be achieved.
Derby Sport Forum wants to play its part. We are a relatively new organisation, trying to bring sports, associations, clubs/groups and people together for the common good.
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Our aim is to promote and celebrate sport across Derby; act as a lobbying group; champion sport, opportunities and facilities for all; and to promote diversity in sport.
We are a key consultative body for Derby City Council sports developments plans, and are ready to assist private and voluntary sectors if asked.
We are an independent body which aims to comment, influence and encourage providers of facilities in the interests of sport.
When plans for the new arena and velodrome at Pride Park were being drawn up we put across certain views.
After the elections, when there was some doubt about whether this would go ahead, the forum consulted members and lobbied the leaders of all three political parties for the scheme to be implemented.
To have cancelled this high-profile project in Olympic year would have been a body blow to sport in the city and a lost opportunity.
Now site work has started we look forward to expressing our members' views on the planned facilities to ensure they meet as many needs as possible.
The same goes for the new swimming pool planned next to Riverlights and other proposed facilities.
The forum is keen to advise and assist clubs and groups in developing and improving their operations and sharing models of best practice, resources and information. We also want to co-ordinate courses to enable as many people as possible to benefit.
Some clubs may have discovered pots of cash that they can tap into. If such finance is there then we want to pass on that knowledge.
Other clubs may have the latest expertise on energy use, which is saving money, or other environmental improvements. Some may have attracted volunteers to do that vital administration.
But to share this information we need representatives of the sports in the city to attend or at least make contact with the forum.
Come to our next meeting at Spondon Cricket Club, Locko Road, Spondon, this Wednesday, at 6.30pm.
If you would like more details, please contact Will Turner at Derby City Council on 01332 641243 or e-mail will.turner@derby.gov.uk.
Comments
by CoachOgre
Friday, January 25 2013, 2:50PM
“One of many organisations trying to do the same across Derby. What is actually needed is firm commitment from those already tasked with promoting sport in Derby that is Derby City Councils Sports Development Officers,Leisure Service Managers, Grant and Fund locators and councillors to get out from behind their desks, leave their offices and to go out, listen and to give more than rhetoric on what they will do to promote and develop sports long term in Derby. To often they say they are listening when what we get is WORDS NOT ACTION , what we need ACTION NOT WORDS.The same goes for the national governing bodies who put in expensive training packages and jump though hoops provisos that most clubs and volunteers cannot afford to do or implement in order to obtain funds. To many are only interested in supporting high profile events and not grass roots. Back to Basics is what we need for all.”