GOVERNMENT funding for a new elite-sports strategy will be investigated as ‘a priority’ in 2023, with the view to improving opportunities for talented athletes.
Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who holds political responsibility for sport in Jersey, is set to lead discussions that could pave the way to better access to facilities, coaching and competitions, with particular focus on those who are likely to represent the Island nationally and internationally.
The proposal for a multi-sport ‘performance pathway’ – which would fund athletes as they target the top of their game – is included in the government’s ministerial plans for next year and could be developed with help from a new sports policy officer.
However, any financial support would not be signed off until at least the end of 2023, as the strategy does not feature in the proposed Government Plan for 2023-26, which will be debated by the States Assembly next month.
‘It is the start of a new Commonwealth Games cycle so it makes sense to look at this now,’ Deputy Stephenson explained.
‘When we sat down and looked at provisions in sport we noticed there is a real gap at the elite level and that’s where we could be helping and improving the situation. A lot of work is being done on physical activity and “Move More” and in the middle a lot of Island sports clubs are doing incredibly well, even though we know they want more funding and support.
‘I’m not suggesting that we very quickly go all “bells and whistles” and pay for everything for everyone, but the idea – which has yet to be developed – is to bring together services and expertise around talented local athletes, so we can support them to a point where they can then feed into world-class programmes in other places; like a swimming programme at a university, for example. Realistically, Jersey is unlikely to ever be at that level in any sport.
‘There is currently no funding in this Government Plan for this but there is funding for a sports policy officer, who would sit within the Economic Development Department and work with me to develop this strategy, engaging with stakeholders and asking what it could look like for Jersey.’
Stephenson added that removing barriers to participation will form a key part of any discussions.
‘What we tend to see in elite sport is that it’s only available to people who can afford it,’ she said. ‘We’d like this to be a way to open up these facilities and resources and make them accessible to all.
‘There are various options and considerations, but we will very much be looking at what we already have available and how athletes can access it. Strive is now the only real place for athletes to access some of these services and with the closure of the Jersey Sport Foundation there is a concern around how their athletes pay for things.’
‘The Ministerial Plans have been presented to the Assembly already and this is something we are going to work on next year. If we decide to go ahead with it, the funding would have to go in the next Government Plan. In early-2023 we will be engaging with sports and other stakeholders on this and I would encourage anyone who has got views on it to get in touch with me.’
