Five-time Olympic Gold medalist, Sir Steve Redgrave, today unveiled a new way for people to become sporting heroes in Dorset.
Sir Steve, our greatest Olympian, has joined forces with Sport England and Active Dorset CSPAP to launch Sport Makers, a programme for everyone who’d like to make sport happen for their friends, neighbours or colleagues.
Sir Steve said: “You don’t need medals to become a sporting hero. By helping people you know to get involved in sport you’ll be doing something amazing for your friends and local community as well as having fun yourself.
“The thing I want to see more than anything is more people out enjoying what sport has to offer, but we need your help to make it happen.
“So why not take your first step to becoming a sporting hero and visit sportmakers.co.uk”
Sport Makers aims to inspire hundreds of people in Dorset to get involved, with each of them spending at least 10 hours organising or leading sporting activities. It is open to anyone aged 16 and over.
Sport Makers is part of the Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country
Every Sport Maker will be invited to an informal and interactive workshop where they’ll gain the skills and opportunities to get involved in sport in Dorset.Sport Makers will be introduced to organisations that need their help, and join forces with others who want to make sport happen locally. There’ll also be opportunities to meet top athletes and plenty of incentives to stay involved.
Today’s launch was welcomed by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP. He said:
“The volunteers that help out at local sports clubs up and down the country are the foundations of community sport. The new Sport Makers initiative is a key part of the London 2012 sports legacy and will help community sports clubs across the country get more people playing sport.”
Over 50% of adults in England say they’d like to play more sport[1], but many people don’t feel they have the time, money or confidence to get involved in a formal setting.
Sport England’s Chair, Richard Lewis, said:
“This is a great chance to get involved in making sport happen in Dorset whether that’s planning the route, finding the pitch or encouraging others to take part.
“So if you think you could help, or have your own ideas for getting others involved in sport, please join in as a Sport Maker and become part of the legacy of the London 2012 Games.”
The programme is backed by the British Olympic Association, whose Chair, Lord Moynihan, said: “Sport Makers will help contribute to an active and vibrant grassroots sporting environment, through which opportunities for people of all ages to participate in sport will be expanded. It will reinforce the ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic movement, demonstrating how they are relevant to every level of sport.”
Notes to Editors
Sport England is focused on the delivery of a mass participation legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We invest National Lottery and Exchequer funding in organisations and projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Places People Play
Places People Play is a £135 million National Lottery programme being delivered by Sport England, in partnership with the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) with the backing of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the London 2012 Inspire mark.
What are Sport Makers?
Sport Makers are, quite simply, people who make sport happen. Some might organise sport informally for themselves and their friends, colleagues or neighbours. Others won’t take part themselves, but will do all those things that make sport possible, such as organising a fundraising fun-run for their village with the help of other Sport Makers, creating a multi-sport event or festival for the local community with other people or welcoming new participants at a local sports club, helping them play the game and encouraging them to keep coming back.
How do I become a Sport Maker?
Visit sportmakers.co.uk to find out more and sign up.
* 56% of the adults questioned for Sport England’s Active People Survey 5 between April 2010 and April 2011 said they would like to do more sport. Around 190,000 people aged 16 and over are interviewed in England each year as part of the Active People Survey
