Sport Event Tourism The Local Agenda Whats in

Sport Event Tourism -The Local Agenda What’s in it for us? A local Sports Development perspective… Presented by: Mr Fiachra O Mathuna, Chief Executive, Active Dorset County Sports Partnership Date: January 11 th 2007 Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda

An overview of the Local Sports Development agenda… The key goals of ‘local’ sports development are to: Advocate the ‘value of sport’ to people and society, ¡ Increase levels of ‘participation’ in sport and active recreation, ¡ Improve access to sporting opportunity by underrepresented communities or groups, ¡ Achieve better ‘quality’ provision in a locality, ¡ Increase resources to ‘local community sport’, ¡ Attract, retain and support ‘volunteers’ to community sport, ¡ Improve people’s lives! ¡ Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda

Some major sporting events* that took place in Dorset during 2006 • UK National Ironman Triathlon • World Youth Sailing Championships • Bournemouth Bay Run(s) • Dorset Youth Games & Sport Relief Mile • UK National Schools Athletics Games Finals * Defined having national profile and/or by having over 1000 participants. Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda

Does local sport in Dorset benefit? ‘Local’ benefits: Yes ¡ Economic Tourism Sport Community √ √ ¡ Local sports development ? ¡ ¡ ¡ No ? Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda

What are the potential benefits in sporting terms? Direct number of people participating, ¡ Acts as an incentive to volunteers and interests new people to get involved, ¡ Develops local expertise of Association/Clubs & Management Groups to organise and run events, ¡ Generates local interest in the sport and associated issues, ¡ Results in improvement to host facilities to enable events to take place, ¡ Potential to inspire young people to be attracted to the sport or activity. ¡ Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda

Improving the ‘local sports legacy’ from ‘major sports events’: It would be even better if…. Event organisers consider involvement and relationship to local sport, ¡ All major events have ‘pre’ and ‘post’ elements to be more effective leaving legacy, ¡ Acknowledge and thank the local contribution (location, local authority, volunteers), ¡ Communicate with local sports development agencies (County Sports Partnerships). ¡ Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda

Thank you for your attention! For more about sport, including events, in Dorset visit: www. activedorset. org Sport Event Tourism – The Local Agenda