COUNCIL AGEGDA IiEi: NO...... “..Is REPORT

To: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE Subject: AWARD OF THE FlSA WORLD MASTERS ROWING REGATTA 2005 TO From: DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES COUNTRY PARK

Date: 6 JUNE 2003 Ref: MMcM/JT/LP

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This report seeks to advise Committee that the International Rowing Course at Strathclyde Country Park has been chosen as the venue for the FlSA World Masters Rowing Regatta in the year 2005. Formal notification was received on Thursday 5 June 2003.

1.2 The Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) at their recent meeting in Milan, Italy, accepted the bid submitted by the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association (SARA), with the support of the GB organisation (ARA),for Strathclyde Country Park to host the 2005 Championships.

1.3 The funding, organising and administration of the event will require collaborative working and partnerships have already been forged between SARA and North Lanarkshire Council in this regard. Further appropriate partners will be invited to the table in due course.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 In demonstrating its commitment to developing the sport of Rowing during 2002 North Lanarkshire Council sponsored a number of modest delegations to the major events in the World Rowing calendar. During the course of those events the delegations were able to present to FlSA the case for the hosting of future World Class Events within Strathclyde Country Park.

2.2 That vision and commitment has now been rewarded by the decision of FlSA to bring this prestigious Championship Regatta to North Lanarkshire in two year’s time.

2.3 “The Masters” is the largest competitive event on the FlSA Calendar of World Rowing, attracting upwards of 7,500entries from 3,000competitors in 2,500 boats. It is a major social gathering with perhaps a further 7,000 officials, friends and family in attendance. Many participants will stay on in to enjoy a family holiday in the host country.

2.4 The economic benefits to North Lanarkshire and all of Scotland are very welcome and whilst the detail is yet to be established, the above statistics indicate potential demand for 70,000+tourist bed-nights. Based on an average spend per day of f75 per person, an associated overall spend of up to f5.25million in the West of Scotland area alone.

2.5 FlSA Grade “A,events have been held in the past in Strathclyde Country Park, including the Commonwealth Games 1986 and the World Rowing Championships in 1996.

C:\TEMP\MASTERS REPORT 1ST2.DOC 2.6 It is important to note that with effect from the year 2006, FlSA Council will require that venues bidding to host their top level competitions will need to have a Racing Course with a minimum of 8 racing lanes in place. Indeed, 8-lane courses are already favoured for top-level championships, as was the case in the Seville 2002 World Championship Regatta, and will be in place for the Greek Olympics 2004 Regatta and the World Championships in Eton in 2006. Currently the Course at Strathclyde Country Park consists of 6 x 2000m racing lanes.

2.7 During the 2002 World Championships in Seville, technical members of the delegation from NLC and SARA met with the FlSA Technical Events Manager to discuss details of the proposals to expand the Strathclyde Park Course to accommodate 8 lanes. In brief, this discussion met with no adverse comment, and the proposals to implement the construction of two additional racing lanes, one on each side of the existing 6-lane course, were welcomed without concern.

3. PROPOSALS

3.1 NLC/SARA now seeks to move forward with proposals to implement the construction of the infrastructure and equipment necessary to provide the additional 2 racing lanes and ancillary facilities to the Rowing Course. A notional project programme indicates completion in spring 2004, with a view to “trial-ing” a number of major Scottish National Regattas during the following summer seasons, thereby proving all necessary venue capabilities well in advance of hosting the World Masters during September 2005. In addition, the partners intend to pursue a vigorous campaign to attract future major events in the international Rowing Calendar to this premier venue.

3.2 Infrastructure improvements are required to enable the venue to host World Class events in line with FlSA standards and those will be set out in a bid to secure external funding.

3.3 In tandem with the physical works on site, NLC and SARA will require to pursue a vigorous promotional programme in connection with the hosting of the event to ensure maximum benefit for the community of North Lanarkshire and for the development of the sport of Rowing. The co-operation and support of other authorities and agencies will be crucial to the success of the Championships.

3.4 In this regard it is proposed to invite such parties to discussions to explore all the possibilities for cross-boundary co-operation. Therefore, it is intended to pursue discussions with the various national organisations likely to be interested in partnering us in this venture. The Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, sportscotland, visitscotland, eventScotland and Strathclyde European Partnership have all responded with interest to preliminary approaches. It is now intended to open detailed talks with all of them to establish the likely level of support for the various elements involved.

4. F IN AN C IAL C 0N S I DE RAT I0N S

4.1 The NLCISARA partnership will seek assistance to develop and promote the Rowing Course at Strathclyde Country Park to meet the new international standards required to secure its continued standing as Scotland’s only permanent World Class Sporting Venue.

4.2 The overall capital cost of the proposals currently estimated at around f350k, or thereby. The Department has ear-marked funding of f200k towards this project in the proposed 3-year capital programme awaiting approval.

C:\TEMP\MASTERS REPORT 1ST2.DOC 5. RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 That the Committee welcomes the news of the award of the 2005 FlSA World Masters Regatta to the Strathclyde Country Park Course, congratulates the NLC/SARA team on the success of their bid, and thanks the Amateur Rowing Association for their significant support.

5.2 That the Committee agrees to the proposals noted at 3 above, in particular the need to quickly progress works to upgrade the Rowing Course to eight lanes to accommodate the Masters Regatta.

5.3 That the Committee refers this report to the Policy & Resources Committee for their interest and support.

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