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MANAGEMENT VOLUME 17 Q4 2013

LEAGUE OF CLUB THEIR OWN POINTS Rugby league Largest plans to grow ever sports the game club survey

Glasgow 2014 Permission The people behind the to engage Commonwealth Games Stadia tech and the fan experience

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Banging heads together

he recent report – Keeping the flame alive; the Olympic and Paralympic legacy – from the House of T Lords Select Committee, was produced following a pretty exhaustive investigation involving 53 live witnesses and written submissions from 67 organisations and individuals. Basically, if anyone had anything to say about

PHOTO: NEALE COUSLAND/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM legacy, this was their chance. (See our report on page 20.) Rafael Nadal, 2013 US Open The committee was equally thorough in the scale of its winner. See our feature on greening the US Open on p42 recommendations, with 41 made across all levels of sport. The most important of these is the urgent call for the e-mail: please use contact’s appointment of a cabinet-level minister to be given overall responsibility for legacy [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS across the UK. Toby Harris, chair of the select committee told Sports Management: Denise Adams “Only someone with senior clout will be able to bang heads together across +44 (0)1462 471930 different departments; like education, with its role in school sport and funding; EDITOR health, which is supposed to be getting us all more active and healthier; and DCMS, Liz Terry +44 (0)1462 431385 with its responsibility for the sports MANAGING EDITOR Will we still be looking governing bodies.” Tom Walker wistfully back to 2012 in This statement highlights the +44 (0)1462 471934 horrible fragmentation of the various PUBLISHER 10 years time, and wrangling departments charged with duties John Challinor +44 (0)1202 742968 on about legacy? I hope not – relating to legacy and explains in part JOURNALISTS it’s time to move on why it’s been a bit of a struggle to date. Tom Anstey The biggest issue is that every +44 (0)1462 471922 agency, government department and quango is safeguarding and justifying its Chris Dodd +44 (0)1462 471902 own budgets, jobs, power base and territory. This inevitably leads to conflicting Aoife Dowling aims, behind the scenes wrangling and an element of bad decision-making, while +44 (0)1462 471938 the actual sport – particularly school sport – doesn’t get enough of a look in. PRODUCTS EDITOR We think with the right person in the job, a minister would be a great idea and Kate Corney if their powers of influence and diplomacy were up to the task they could function +44 (0)1462 471933 like the conductor of an orchestra – channeling skills, controlling egos and with their DISPLAY ADVERTISING Jan Williams eye firmly on the end result rather than the process. +44 (0)1462 471909 And now the final report’s been published, everyone’s had their say and the DESIGN calendars are turning to 2014, please we can put the word legacy behind us? Ed Gallagher The aim now must be to focus on indicators based on health, participation and +44 (0)1905 20198 Andy Bundy inclusion – on engaging children and young people and enabling them to keep +44 (0)1462 471924 good sport and exercise habits for life. Will we still be looking wistfully back to 2012 INTERNET in 10 years time and wrangling about legacy? I hope not. It’s time to move on. Michael Paramore +44 (0)1462 471926 Liz Terry, editor [email protected] twitter: elizterry Dean Fox +44 (0)1462 471900 Tim Nash Check out our other publications and order free samples at www.leisuremedia.com +44 (0)1462 471917 CIRCULATION MANAGER Michael Emmerson +44 (0)1462 471932 FINANCIAL ADMIN Denise Adams +44 (0)1462 471930

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 3 IN THIS ISSUE ISSUE 4 2013

24 Interview – Nick Keller 32 Getting ready for Glasgow 2014 42 Sustainability – a look at the US Open

44 Grassroots – rugby league has increased participation since London 2012 20 London 2012 – will there be a legacy?

3 EDITOR’S LETTER 20 TALKING POINT – LORDS REPORT 38 STADIUM TECHNOLOGY The results of the House of Lords Tom Walker looks at how stadia 6 THOUGHT LEADERS Select Committee on the Olympic and are looking to improve match day Industry comment from John Goodbody, Paralympic Games is out. We speak to experiences and fan engagement by Judy Murray and John Steele industry leaders and find out their views investing in high-end technology

8-17 NEWS 24 INTERVIEW – NICK KELLER 42 SUSTAINABILITY - US OPEN A look at the latest industry news: We speak to the founder of Beyond USTA, organiser of The US Open tennis UK Sport announces changes to high Sport – a global organisation looking to tournament in Flushing Meadows, New performance programme; new stadium action social change through sport York, has set itself the target of making for QPR; no change in participation levels the event the most sustainable sports in the year after London 2012 28 RESEARCH – SPORTS CLUBS tournament in the world. We look at the Andy Reed, chair of the Sports and Rec- green initiatives in place at the event 18 NEWS REPORT reation Alliance, presents the findings of A recent article in the British Journal of the latest Sports Club Survey 44 GROWING THE GRASSROOTS – Sports Medicine has stirred debate after RUGBY LEAGUE suggesting that the lack of policy to 32 TOP TEAM – GLASGOW 2014 England co-hosted the Rugby League tackle childhood inactivity is tantamount We speak to five key members of the World Cup this year. The sport’s national to child neglect. The piece also argues Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 Or- governing body, the RFL, is looking that governments have failed to ganising Committee to find out how they to benefit from the increased media implement a successful national policy. work towards delivering a major event exposure to build up grassroots rugby.

4 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK

ISSUE 4 2013

digital magazine See Sports Management online www.sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital

38 A look at stadium technology 62 Natural turf – IOG awards

news and jobs: For jobs and news visit www.sportsmanagement.co.uk or sign up for e-news on www.leisuresubs.com

subscribe: Sign up for Sports Management at www.leisuresubs.com or call: +44 (0)1462 471915

52 The pioneering Vertical Gym concept – breaking the mould

48 GETTING INVOLVED 66 ARTIFICIAL TURF A number of UK leisure trusts are A round-up of recent artificial turf introducing innovative campaigns and installations from around the UK programmes for young people and those attention buyers! with physical impairments 70-74 GAME ON: A recap on the recent fi nd suppliers and innovation updates SAPCA Sports Facility Show, held at the www.sport-kit.net 52 VERTICAL GYM Allianz Park in north London – and a A revolutionary new urban sports con- chance to find out the latest news from sport directory cept has been launched in Venezuela. We SAPCA member companies take a closer look at the initiative For suppliers of products and 75 GAME ON: SAPCA DIRECTORY services, turn to page 80 56 SPORTS CONDITIONING Two former athletes have turned entre- 78 SPORT-KIT SPECIAL SAPCA preneurs and introduced a gym looking A product roundup looking at the latest Sports Management is a to offer elite sports conditioning to all in the world of sports lighting, compiled partner of the Sports and by Sports Management product editor, Play Construction Association 62 NATURAL TURF Kate Corney (SAPCA), the trade body for Tottenham Hotspur groundsman Darren the UK’s sports facility construction industry. Sports Management and SAPCA Baldwin was called in to save the day at a 80 SPORT DIRECTORY work in partnership to promote high pre-season tournament in Hong Kong standards in the design, construction and after the pitch was deemed unplayable 82 DIARY DATES AND AD INDEX maintenance of UK sports facilities.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 5 THOUGHT LEADERS

INDUSTRY EXPERTS SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON THE CURRENT ISSUES AFFECTING SPORT

Improvements made to the CASC system will offer community sports clubs greater flexibility

JOHN GOODBODY, JOURNALIST, SUNDAY TIMES

here should be a warm welcome requests for opinions and evidence from mandatory business rate relief and even to the new widespread changes to sports clubs, representative bodies, 100 per cent discretionary relief in some T the tax regulations affecting small individuals and even accounting firms. cases, as well as the ability to claim Gift sports clubs. The government recognised In publishing its decisions, Nicky Aid on voluntary contributions. In total that the original legislation governing Morgan, the economic secretary there has been more than £130m in the Community Amateur Sports to the Treasury, emphasised:”The savings since the scheme was set up in Clubs (CASC) was unclear and causing government believes that participation 2002 as well as £12m in Gift Aid. confusion and so after a lengthy public in sport at a local level should be based Now has come a further bonanza. consultation has now set out some new on enthusiasm and not on income. Registered clubs can now generate rules to help these clubs and so hopefully Alongside the more generous tax breaks greater amounts of trading and rental to boost participation. for CASCs, we have made it clearer that income (up to £50,000 and £30,000 Over the last three years, the Sport they should make them accessible to all.” respectively) without being hit by a and Recreation Alliance has led the way The CASC scheme has been one of charge on corporation tax. Gift Aid has with a series of meetings with officials the success stories of the grassroots of also been extended, thus allowing local of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sport, with 6,200 clubs registered across businesses to give donations to sports to secure these further tax breaks. The a range of disciplines. These clubs have clubs, while a trading subsidiary can give government also got 146 responses to benefitted through at least 80 percent more of their profits back to the main club tax free. Clubs now have greater flexibility if they want to reimburse Sports clubs can make our society happier and healthier – players and officials for subsistence and travel costs and there is more provision and tax relief will help them achieve those goals for them to make some small payments to their players or competitors. They can also generate as much money as they like from their members, although there is a ceiling of £100,000 from non-members – a member being anyone who plays sport at the club at least 12 times in a year. The new rules also clarify how a club must be open to the whole community, so as to be able to register as a CASC. A club cannot charge members more than £10 a week or £520 a year or it will have to give special discounts for those people wanting to become members but who cannot afford the fees. No club is allowed to charge more than £31 per week to be eligible for the relief. Sports clubs make our society happier, healthier and wealthier and tax relief will make a significant difference to them. Now the ambition must be to get changes on the status of PAYE payments due for employees, such as bar staff and receptionists, which prove such an onerous burden on clubs. One victory has It is hoped the changes will cut red tape and help clubs concentrate on providing sport

PIC: © .SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ CLIVE WATKINS CLIVE © .SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ PIC: been achieved but the fight must go on.

6 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The importance of families in sport and fitness

JUDY MURRAY, TENNIS COACH AND FOUNDER OF SET4SPORT

port and fitness are at the core of which is rarely spoken about. For me, that want to get active the British psyche. Physical activity component is the family unit and how it together. It’s a free Schallenges us to do more, see more spends its time together, with a particular toolkit bursting with activities that you and to achieve more. My personal view emphasis on the crucial “early years” period. can play anywhere. Set4Sport has been is that this doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve been working with ukactive, which supported by RBS since its launch in 2011 becoming a Wimbledon Champion is as keen as I am to get more people, and showcases the games that I played (though it doesn’t hurt), but finding a more active, more often – to study the with my sons long before they went on personal goal no matter how small and evidence behind the importance of the to win Grand Slams and Wimbledon working towards it, and getting the home and family in fostering a positive Championships. I played ball games with satisfaction at the end of it. attitude towards physical activity. Jamie and Andy almost as soon as they I’m a passionate believer that the family The research it has undertaken is really could walk. We didn’t know it then, but should be one of the places where collective emphasising the importance of the family we were all taking part in the most basic achievements can be made through physical unit. For example, the team at ukactive of coaching sessions. It was great fun activity. Since London 2012 there’s been a has highlighted the vital importance of but it also helped them develop the co- great emphasis on getting kids more active, an underpinning level of physical literacy, ordination skills which would allow them which is brilliant. There’s great work being completely distinct from any sport specific to play any sport competently in later life done by schools, councils, leisure providers skills, as being the most important place and it’s clear that there is now a growing and brands to ensure that there are as many to start with young children. body of evidence to reinforce this type of options as possible for kids to get active in That’s why I launched Set4Sport in approach. The fact is, families that play the community. But there seems to me, in all partnership with RBS. The sole aim of together, win together. To find out more of the debate, to be a missing component Set4Sport is to support families who about Set4Sport: www.set4sport.com

Making roads cycle proof

ADRIAN LORD, INFRASTRUCTURE EXPERT, STEER DAVIES GLEAVE AND BRITISH CYCLING

n 2012 we celebrated a British chronic illnesses in the UK each year time to cross busy winner of the Tour de France and associated with inactivity, which cycling junctions safely. I the velodrome was the ‘must have’ could help to cure. This approach to design needs to be ticket at the London Olympics. British Anybody who rides a bike in Britain backed up by processes, training and success continued in 2013, and we can will have experienced aggression or changes to traffic law to enable the UK look forward to hosting Le Tour in 2014. carelessness by drivers. This makes the to adopt the best ideas from countries Interest in cycling has never been higher. roads feel unsafe and fear prevents which have successfully delivered more In Ilkley, West Yorkshire, one in 14 of people from cycling. A cycle track which cycling. Cycle proofing is also about the population is a member of the local stops whenever it reaches a problematic getting strong technical and political cycling club! More people are cycling to road crossing doesn’t actually help at leadership to ensure that cyclists and work and schools. the places where accidents occur, and is pedestrians are treated with the same It’s not all good news. Recent fatalities uncomfortable and inconvenient to use. consideration as motor traffic when have highlighted the hazards of cycling Chris Boardman coined the term planning roads and streets. on busy urban roads, particularly with ‘Cycle Proofing’ to try to encapsulate As a sport, cycling success is achieved lorries and buses which have extensive the measures needed to make roads through meticulous planning, analysis blind spots. Accidents are rare compared more safe, convenient and attractive for of what gets results, leadership and with the millions of cycle journeys made, cycling. In terms of design this means hard work by individuals. It is not life-changing serious injuries affect separating cyclists from traffic on main unreasonable to assume that if we plan hundreds of people each year. Each of roads, reducing speeds to improve safety for everyday cycling with the same rigor, these is tragic, but so is the misery of on minor roads and giving pedestrians we will get more people cycling on a hundreds of thousands of deaths and and cyclists direct routes and sufficient safer road network.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 7 NEWS UPDATE

‘Shared vision’ for high performance

UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS) have announced a number of changes to the UK’s high performance system as part of a “shared vision” for building a stronger, more sustainable Team GB. The changes include a new, evidence- based Mission 2016 tracking tool to support the on-going development of all World An artist’s impression of the new stadium Class Performance Programmes, as well as a renewed focus on centralising data and Franklin Gardens stadium analysis on athletes and World Class set for £5.5m revamp Programmes’ performance pathways. A Project Para Impact Group will also be Northampton Saints rugby club has sub- established, in partnership with the British mitted plans to Northampton Borough Paralympics Association and Home Country Council (NBC) for a £5.5m redevelopment Sports Institutes. The group will be made up of its Franklin’s Gardens stadium. of multidisciplinary experts in high perfor- It is hoped the changes to the high performance Plans include replacing the age- mance paralympic sport with a shared aim of system will deliver further Olympic success ing Sturtridge Pavilion with a new, accelerating the development of the Paralympic 2,000-capacity North Stand which will high performance system. them to develop a Performance Partnership increase capacity at the ground to just short Meanwhile the EIS, UK Sport’s science, Plan. This will allow EIS to deliver a holistic of 16,000. It is the last phase of a 12-year medicine and technology arm, has made a range of science, medicine, technology and redevelopment of the stadium. number of refinements to its working rela- research services designed to increase the prob- The planned works have already received tionships with sports. The changes have ability of success. initial backing from the council. been designed to maximise the impact of the Simon Timson, director of performance at Council leader David Mackintosh said: services it offers and provide athletes and UK Sport, said: “Past success is no guaran- “If approved, the larger stadium would see coaches with access to world leading expertise. tee of future medals, and we must not assume more rugby fans brought into our town. One of the key measures includes the replicating what we did for Beijing and London, “This can only be good for our local creation of a Performance Solutions team to because it produced incredible results, will work economy and give more Saints sup- manage relationships with sports and work with for Rio. Details: http://lei.sr?a=U5r5K porters the chance to cheer on the players in black, green and gold.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=n7n4e Premier League secures China football deal

Extension of CASC to help The UK government has grassroots sports clubs helped the English Premier League (EPL) secure an agree- An extension to the Community Amateur ment with the Chinese Super Sports Club (CASC) relief could bring League (CSL) to build up financial assistance to more than 40,000 football at an elite, youth and grassroots sport clubs in the UK. community level in China. The new additions to CASC announced The new partnership this week include an increase in the amount was signed on 2 December that can be earned tax free from club bars, in Beijing by culture sec- cafes and venue hire - and clubs who gen- retary Maria Miller and erate income this way will be able to donate former England and Chelsea more of their profits back into the sports footballer Graeme Le Saux. club tax free. Clubs will be able to generate The deal will be announced up to £50,000 from trading (increased from as part of the UK govern- £30,000) and £30,000 from rental income ment’s trade mission to (increased from £20,000) from non-mem- China, led by Prime Minister bers before paying corporation tax. David Cameron, which took The deal will see English football gain a foothold in the Chinese market To encourage local – and larger – dona- place in early December. tions to clubs, corporations and local The deal will see EPL working with CSL The Chinese market has been targeted by businesses who donate to sports clubs will and the China Football Association on pro- many of the European elite football leagues be able to offset their donation against their grammes and projects to promote and develop due to its potential growth prospects. corporation tax bill. football in China. According to EPL figures, the East Asian t
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8 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK

No change in participation figures Scottish school sport to receive £6m funding boost

There has been no change in Scottish schools will benefit from a £6m the number of people play- funding package designed to improve ing sport regularly since the Physical Education (PE) provision ahead London 2012 Olympic Games. of next years Commonwealth Games. A total of 15.5 million peo- The move supports the Scottish ple in England played sport at Government’s draft Youth Sport Strategy, least once a week for 30 min- published on 11 December for consultation. utes during the 12 months to Its vision is that Scotland will be the best October 2013 – the exact same place in the world for a child to grow up figure as the year before (12 actively and has been shaped by the Young months to October 2012). People’s Sport Panel (YPSP), a group of 16 The figures come from the people between the ages of 14 and 25 who latest Active People Survey are passionate about sport and want to (APS), published on 12 make a difference. December by Sport England. Key actions in the draft strategy include The report presents a mixed Archery is among the sports to have increased numbers since 2012 extending competitive sport in and between picture for overall participa- schools; ensuring every community sport tion, as it shows record participation numbers 51,000 over the last year means that just over hub has young people as an integral part of for many areas, while others show signs of 3.74 million young adults in England are now their management team; involving disabled decline. People of BME origin are embracing playing sport regularly. young people fully in PE; and ensuring high sporting opportunities more than ever before While there were increases in five Olympic quality coaches and volunteers raise the with 2.7 million taking part in organised sport sports – cycling, equestrian, boxing, canoeing profile of young people in sport. at least once a week. and archery – the evidence also shows a sharp During the consultation, the Scottish There is also a record number of 1.67 million drop in the popularity of traditional sports Government and sportscotland will disabled people playing sport each week, up such as football, tennis and netball. work closely with partners including by 62,000 over the last year – a testament both In all, nine sports recorded increases in Scotland’s Commissioner for Children to the impact of the Paralympic Games and participation during the past 12 months and the final strategy and action plan Sport England’s investment in accessible sport. – the five Olympic sports as well as bad- will be published in spring 2014. Figures for the 16-25 year old age group, minton, bowls, angling and rugby league. Details: http://lei.sr?a=Y3m7a however, show a different story. A decline of Details: http://lei.sr?a=E4M6T

School sport funding secured for extra year

Chancellor George Osborne confirmed in his autumn statement yesterday that the government has extended its £150m per year funding for school by one year until 2016. The government first The capacity at Beckenham will be increased announced the £150m annual fund in March this year, with Kent CCC to revamp an initial pledge to secure the Beckenham ground funding until 2015. There will be no change to Kent County Cricket Club has received the the way the money is distrib- green light from planners for a multi-mil- uted, so the amount of money lion pound redevelopment of its Worsley each school will receive will The government has announced that the current deal will run until 2016 Bridge Road ground at Beckenham, continue to be calculated enhancing the facilities for cricket and pro- by the number of primary-aged pupils and sport. It gives schools and sport providers a viding hospitality. schools will have to spend the money on clearer focus, sense of stability and incentive Among the additions planned are improving their provision of PE and sport. to make the pupil premium funding work. an indoor cricket school, built to ECB Schools are free to spend the money on “While this is a step in the right direction, Academy standards and a new 2,000- hiring specialist PE teachers or qualified sports however, what we really need is a longer term, seat stand to boost capacity. There will coaches to work alongside primary teachers as say, ten year strategy for school sport - which also be physiotherapy treatment rooms, well as paying for professional development would allow schools to deliver quality PE and a gym, pilates studio, a bar and confer- opportunities in PE/sport. sport provision regardless of what party is in ence and banqueting area, offices, floodlit Tim Lamb, CEO of the Sport and Recreation power or what their priorities at the time football pitch, tennis courts and parking. Alliance, said: “This is good news for school might be.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=j9d0i Details: http://lei.sr?a=K2H2Z

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 9 NEWS UPDATE

Sheffield aims for ‘most active’ status

A Sheffield sports venue is to play a key role in a major investment project aimed at making the city one of the most active in the UK. New facilities at the Concord Sports Centre in Shiregreen will see it become The stadium would have a capacity of 21,000 one of three initial devel- opments for the National Aberdeen stadium plans Centre for Sport and Exercise back on the agenda Medicine (NCSEM), a gov- ernment funded Olympic The chair of Aberdeen Football Club has Legacy project. revealed that Loirston Loch is still the pre- The £700,000 development ferred venue for the club’s new stadium. will be completed under the Making the announcement at the Dons’ NCSEM banner, which brings The Concord Centre is set for a comprehensive upgrading of facilities AGM on 25 November, Stewart Milne con- communities, clinical ser- firmed that talks have been ongoing with vices, sport and exercise specialists and health NCSEM, said it would – amongst other ben- Aberdeen City Council about constructing professionals together to examine how exer- efits – co-locate sport and exercise medicine a new stadium on the site. cise can be used in the treatment of a range specialists; house clinical services, opportuni- Speaking to RedTV he said: “We still of chronic health conditions. ties for sport and exercise and research under see Loirston as the best location for the At Concord, which is funded by Sheffield one roof; encourage the sharing of facilities new stadium and in recent months have City Council and operated by Sheffield and practise between the sports centre and the reopened discussions with the Council. International Venues (SIV), this will mean a healthcare facility; and provide professional Details: http://lei.sr?a=g5p7B new facility in the existing North changing clinical advice and treatment. block, which will house a range of consulta- SIV is now seeking planning permission for tion and treatment rooms. There will also be the development and it is hoped that building New grassroots-focused a new dedicated entrance and reception area. work can begin in the spring of next year with strategy for handball Outlining how the site will operate, Rob an expected completion date of late summer. Copeland, project manager of the Sheffield Details: http://lei.sr?a=f7O7h England Handball has launched a new four- year strategy with the longer term vision of making handball a major team sport in England by 2020. Boston plans £100m mixed-use project At the heart of a new approach to grow- ing participation is the aim of embedding Boston United Football Club handball within the education sector. (BUFC) chair David Newton By introducing the sport in schools, col- has unveiled detailed plans leges and universities, England Handball for a £100m mixed-use proj- hopes to create a new generation of players ect which would include a who grow up with handball as part of their new, 4,000-seater stadium regular curriculum. The strategy also out- for the club. lines three other priority areas for England Plans for the Community Handball; training and deploying a quali- Stadium include an all- fied workforce, building a sustainable club weather 3G pitch for infrastructure and providing a competition community use, plus educa- and performance pathway. tional facilities, conference The new, grasroots-focused strategy and banqueting facilities; a comes after a loss of UK Sport funding at café; education and commu- elite level. England Handball says increase- nity facilities; meeting rooms ing grassroots activity will ultimately for hire; an all weather sports provide it with a better long term oppor- pitch and possibly a sports A new 4,000-capacity community stadium is part of the master plan tunity to compete on an international stage. hall. As well as the new sta- David Meli, England Handball CEO, dium, plans for the development - called The BUFC was relegated from the Football said: ““As a small governing body we are Quadrant - include more than 500 new homes League in 2007 – the same year in which it realistic in terms of our capacity. We want as well as retail space and restaurants. was placed in administration and lost all of to see a growth in the size and quality of our Newton, who owns Lincolnshire-based its playing squad. workforce as we feel that is the best way to house builder Chestnut Homes, said he is look- The club has struggled on the pitch in recent provide long term sustainable opportuni- ing to fund the project by securing loans from years and currently plays in the Conference ties.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=Z9D0e local and central government. North. Details: http://lei.sr?a=R2z3V

10 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 ATHLETICS NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK BADMINTON

BASKETBALL £10m grant for Scottish clubs BOOT WIPERS CRICKET Sportscotland has launched a £10m, four-year funding plan which will create 50 new FIRST AID regional development posts for scottish governing bod- FOOTBALL ies of sport (SGBs). The new investment HANDBALL will also see a Direct Club Investment (DCI) programme HOCKEY being launched to support the growth of individual clubs. A total of £5.8m will be invested LACROSSE in the new regional develop- ment posts over the next four ROUNDERS years - is part of a strategy to ensure there are more profes- The funding will look to directly benefit community sports clubs NETBALL sional people working directly to support local sport clubs, which will help sport is crucial in our drive to provide more PITCH improve the overall quality of the school to and better opportunities for people of all club to performance pathways. backgrounds to become more involved in MAINTENANCE According to Stewart Harris, CEO of sport and physical activity.” sportscotland, the new grants mark a sig- Meanwhile, the DCI is designed to support RUGBY nificant change in the way local sport clubs large-scale club development projects over a in Scotland are supported, and will provide two to four-year period, with a focus on either AMERICAN a model which helps clubs develop in a sustain- growing club membership or enhancing club FOOTBALL able way. We ‘re making significant progress in environments to allow the development of implementing a world-class sporting system high performance athletes, with some clubs at all levels, and this investment demon- focusing on both aspects. SHELTERS strates our commitment to the growth of clubs In the first year it is expected that around throughout the country,” he said. 50 clubs will be supported through DCI, with SOCCERENA “The connection between school sport, 11 clubs having already secured investment. community club sport and high performance %FUBJMT
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MAINTENANCE Leisure trusts to bid for £2m funding SYNTHETIC UK leisure trusts are being PITCH invited to bid for a share EQUIPMENT of £2m worth of funding – thanks to a new partner- TENNIS ship between Sport England and Sporta. The cash will be MINI TENNIS distributed through Sporta’s Make Your Move campaign and trusts can apply for up TRAINING AIDS to £50,000 of funding. Sporta is the national association of VOLLEYBALL leisure and cultural trusts and its members operate a wide range of leisure and cul- tural services in communities To request a across the UK. The scheme looks to reward innovative programmes run by trusts The bids need to demon- catalogue please call strate the ability to “deliver innovative projects and Lewisham. The scheme lets young people that will help more people play sport”. decide on the type of sport sessions and fitness our sales team on One of the successful projects to receive activities they would like to do, with Fusion funding, by Fusion Lifestyle, is already up and delivering the required sports at four sites running. Fusion was awarded £43,000 for its throughout the capital every Friday evening. 01502 710039 Friday Night Project, which aims to reduce t
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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 markharrod.com NEWS UPDATE

Exciting times for Derby’s venues

Derby County Football Club’s (DCFC) Pride Park stadium will be renamed as part of a £7m sponsorship deal, while Derbyshire County Cricket Club (DCCC) has launched a funding bid to redevelop its home ground. Pride Park will be rebranded as iPro Stadium next month (December), following DCFC’s deal with global sports drink company Ronaldo said he is proud of his Madeiran roots iPro Sport. The £7m deal will run for Cristiano Ronaldo opens 10 years and is believed to be DCCC is looking to upgrade its ageing County Ground on the town Madeira football museum one of the biggest indepen- dent sponsorship deals arranged by a club in increase the ground’s capacity from nearly Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has Football League history. 5,000 to 7,000 - strengthening the club’s case announced opened a museum devoted Meanwhile, DCCC is looking to secure to hosting a 2019 World Cup game. to himself. The museum is located on the £1.9m worth of loans and grants as to allow a The club has already been given a provi- Portuguese island of Madeira, where he £3.6m redevelopment of its County Ground sional green light for £1.7m of funding from was born, and will be used to showcase venue in the city to go ahead. The redevelop- the England and Wales Cricket Board towards memorabilia from his career, including ment would include a new media centre and the project. Details: http://lei.sr?a=e9p2A trophies, footballs and photographs. Ronaldo attended the opening on 15 December in person. A spokesperson said: “The project has been a dream for QPR reveals 40,000-seater stadium plans Cristiano. He wanted to give something back to Madeira and the island’s people”. Queens Park Rangers Ronaldo began his footballing career Football Club has unveiled as a youth player at local club Andorinha, plans for a new 40,000-seater before moving to CD Nacional and from stadium as part of a major there to Sporting Clube de Portugal in 1997. regeneration project of the In 2003 he was signed for Manchester Old Oak area in west London. United for a fee of £12.24m, and in 2009 The new area, which has became the then most expensive football been provisionally called New player in history when he moved from Queens Park, will see the sta- Manchester United to Real Madrid in a dium built alongside a new deal worth £80m. residential area with 24,000 Ronaldo is still at Real Madrid, having homes and a commercial recently signed a new contract with the club space to include a 350-bed- until 2018. Details: http://lei.sr?a=a3K3m room luxury hotel, cinemas and restaurants. The news follows London The new stadium will more than double QPR’s home game capacity Timebank Programme now mayor Boris Johnson’s recent open to sports clubs announcement that turning Old Oak into a Tony Fernandes. “It will create a vibrant new new world-class city quarter is to be one of destination in London, boosting local busi- Volunteer Now has joined up with Sport his main regeneration priorities for the city nesses, attracting new visitors and tourism and Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland and that a Mayoral Development Corporation creating a thriving community.” Sports Forum to launch the 2014-15 Small (MDC) – only the second after the Olympic Fernandes revealed the club were look- Grants Programme, funded by Atlantic Park development – is to be set up to promote ing at alternative sites to Loftus Road in West Philanthropies, to support sports clubs and it. Thew new area – which is expected to be London in November 2011 and Rangers con- groups across Northern Ireland to develop larger than Canary Wharf – is expected to gen- firmed they were in talks about the Old Oak Timebanks in their area. erate 50,000 new jobs. site since August 2013. Timebanks are a way for people to “Not only will this give us a top quality Working with Stadium Capital come together to help others by shar- stadium to cater for QPR’s needs as the club Developments, QPR has concluded a let- ing their skills in the community. progresses and grows over the years ahead, ter of collaboration with the Greater Participants ‘deposit’ their time by giv- but we are very excited about being the driv- London Authority (GLA) and the London ing practical help and support to others. ing force behind creating one of the best new Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Details: http://lei.sr?a=s5E0y urban places in the world,” said QPR chair Details: http://lei.sr?a=c6E3g

12 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE AT WWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UK

Mills calls for joined up approach

Speaking at the ukactive Summit held today in London (7 November 2013), Sir Keith Mills, founder of Nectar and Air Miles and former deputy chair of LOCOG, criticised the way in which efforts are made to increase partici- pation in sport. Mills, who was asked to oversee the aborted attempt to merge UK Sport and Sport England, said: “We spend, depending how you calculate it, between one and two billion pounds of pub- lic money in this country each year on sport. From school sport, local authority facilities, through to Sport England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, UK Sport, 70-plus govern- ing bodies of sport and so the list goes on. Many of them do a good job – but sadly, some don’t, and there is one thing that is clearly evi- dent and that is that there is very little focus Sir Keith Mills spoke at the ukactive Summit or joined up thinking. Most of these organisa- tions are doing their own thing. We need to Fred Turok, ukactive chairman, said: adopt a more strategic joined up approach.” “Reducing inactivity is where we can deliver Mills was making his comments at the ukac- the biggest public health gains, tackle health tive Summit, an event which brought together inequalities and get the maximum financial more than 400 delegates with an interest in return on our investment.” improving the health of the nation by getting This call has been backed by Prime Minister more people, more active, more often. David Cameron, who said: “Turning the At the Summit, ukactive launched a national tide of inactivity is essential to the health ambition to turn the tide of physical inactiv- of our nation. I am delighted to support ity, highlighting that a 1 per cent reduction in ukactive and its drive for making physi- inactivity rates for five years would save an cal activity part of the DNA of our country.” estimated £1.2bn. Details: http://lei.sr?a=B4I5k

£102m earmarked for grassroots football

Grassroots football facilities in England are set to bene- fit from £102m of investment over the next three years. The Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund will pro- vide financial aid to hundreds of grassroots facility projects across the country, aimed at improving the experience of playing the national game at the lowest levels and help to increase participation in football. The funding will be provided jointly by Sport England, the FA and the The money will be used to provide better facilities for players of all ages Premier League and deliv- ered by the Football Foundation. Launching the new fund at a school in cen- Many of the facilities created by the tral London, minister for sport and equalities, fund will be designed to strengthen the Helen Grant, said: “This partnership between connection between professional football the Premier League, the FA, Sport England clubs and their local communities, particu- and government shows what can be achieved larly in the most deprived areas of the country, when the public and private sectors work through the professional clubs’ community together to help strengthen our national game. www.matrixfitness.co.uk trusts’ outreach work. Details: http://lei.sr?a=P8R9H

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 NEWS UPDATE

Perform given FIFA accreditation

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14 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013

NEWS UPDATE

Birmingham to replace Scheme to get women into football ageing sports centres In an overhaul of Birmingham’s leisure The Football Association facilities, nine centres are being closed (FA) and Sport England have down, but six new facilities are being devel- joined forces with the Premier oped within the next two years. League and The Football The council’s leisure services are cur- League to increase the num- rently running at £6.8m over budget and ber of women and girls taking council leader, Sir Albert Bore, says that a part in football sessions. radical approach is needed. A £2.4m investment over The nine ageing centres earmarked to the next two years from close are: Newtown Pool, Colmers Leisure Sport England will see the Centre, Court Road, Erdington Leisure Premier League and Football Centre, Moseley Road Swimming Pool, League clubs deliver season- Northfield Pool, Shard End leisure centre, long coaching programmes to Stechford Cascades and Tivertoon Pool in more than 40,000 new female Selly Oak. Details: http://lei.sr?a=E3N2I players try the sport. The initiative is the first The £2.4m campaign looks to attract more women into the sport time The FA, Premier League and The Football League have worked Helen Grant, minister for sport, said: “This together to deliver a grassroots women’s is great news for women’s football and shows football programme, with a total of 88 what can be achieved by football working clubs trusts across the country working in together. The professional clubs’ pull in the tandem with county FAs, schools, colleges and community, combined with qualified coaches universities to deliver the sessions through from The FA, will get many more young Level 2 qualified coaches. women playing.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=D8X9P

An artist’s impression of one of the new centres NUFC unveils training complex plans Two new sports centres for Manchester council Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) has unveiled plans for a new state-of-the-art train- Manchester City Council looks set to fol- ing complex as part of a multi-million pound low an invest to save rationale to meet its redevelopment of the club’s existing 35-acre spending cut targets, by closing three age- training ground site. ing facilities and developing two new ones. According to an announcement on the A report has recommended the develop- club’s website, the current intention is that ment of new leisure and library services at work will get underway in May 2015 and Levenshulme and a leisure facility at Hough should be complete in early 2016. While exist- End. The £18m needed for the develop- ing training pitches and a modern indoor ments would be funded mainly from training hall will be retained, the club’s current the capital fund, with some money com- Training Centre building will be demolished ing from borrowing and capital receipts. and replaced by a much larger structure. Details: http://lei.sr?a=H5Q7w This will accommodate newly-designed changing, training, rehabilitation, medical, leisure and catering facilities, plus a 20m Work on the centre is due to begin in May 2015 Green light for Washington swimming pool, a hydrotherapy and fitness sports and leisure centre pool and specialist equipment to aid injury presentation suite for match analysis and a prevention and recovery. new media suite. Plans for an £11m replacement leisure cen- The project will also create a fitness centre A formal planning application is to be sub- tre in Washington have been given the go double the size of the club’s existing gym- mitted shortly, ahead of the commencement of ahead by Sunderland City Council. nasium, as well as administrative space, a a tender process. Details: http://lei.sr?a=O6Q7y Facilities are expected to include a six-lane 25m pool and learner pool; a four-court sports hall; an additional Scotland invests in women’s elite football multi-purpose hall; two glass-backed squash courts; sauna and steam rooms; A new Scottish government grant of £200,000 recovery time as well as more strength and a wellness centre with a 100-station gym, will provide the country’s elite female foot- conditioning sessions. separate indoor cycling facility and exer- ballers with a individual allowances, allowing The Scottish FA has set a target for the wom- cise studio; a two-level soft play area and them to reduce their working hours and train en’s team to progress to the 2015 World Cup in six external 3G small-sided football pitches. more. Provided by sportscotland, the fund- Canada – the team currently sits top of its qual- Details: http://lei.sr?a=c7v2C ing is designed to allow players to have more ifying group with eight games to go.

16 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTION

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 17 Marussia F1 Team, Indian Grand Prix – New Delhi / Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina

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www.barrandwray.com NEWS REPORT Lack of exercise policy - is it child neglect?

An editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has highlighted the lack of UK policy aimed at increasing exercise levels in children, with one of its co-authors suggesting such failings meet the government’s own definition of child neglect

recent article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine Activity levels (BJSM) has stirred controversy, in the UK are after suggesting the lack A worryingly low, of policy on childhood inactivity is according to the tantamount to child neglect. The report medical journal was written by experts from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool John Moores University and the Sydney School of Public Health. The article suggests that the failure to increase levels of exercise among younger people – despite growing evidence to show the immediate and long-term benefits of regular exercise during child- hood – amounts to negligence. It argues that governments have failed to imple- ment a national policy and that leadership and strategy have been “totally absent”. To tackle the issues facing activity We must engage children and young people in physical levels, the authors have called for more cooperation between governments and activity using highly qualified professionals educational bodies to decide on a nation- al policy which caters for children from all social and economic backgrounds. The comments have ignited a debate the recently launched Capre (the “There has been a persistent failure surrounding the role that both the state Children’s Activity Professionals Register) by both this government and former and children’s parents play in encouraging – which has been set up to validate the governments to meet children’s basic activity, with Weiler arguing that schools qualifications of professionals working physical and psychological needs,” said have an important role to play. in this sector – said there are dire health co-author Dr Richard Weiler, consultant However, former children’s minister and economic implications in allowing in sport and exercise medicine at Tim Loughton, labelled the comments successive generations of children to be University College London and club as ‘alarmist’, saying “Finger-wagging inactive and that new thinking is needed. doctor at West Ham United. Weiler also and accusing the government of mass- “We must change this situation by suggested that the lack of policy “meets neglect of children deeply undermines engaging children in physical activity,” he the government’s own definition of child the seriousness of this problem,” he said, “The way to do this is through using neglect”, while stating that the funds said. “I agree we need to do much more highly qualified professionals, who can which have been allocated to encourage for kids and sport, making it a part of deliver engaging, fun and safe sessions. children’s activity are “pitiful”. their growing up, and something they Children are not like adults, so education Recent data from the British Heart want to do because it’s enjoyable – as on health implications is not enough for Foundation’s Children and Young People well as being good for them – but child them. The first step in addressing this Statistics 2013 report shows that 85 per neglect is ‘a persistent failure to meet a nationwide issue is to professionalise how cent of girls and 73 per cent of boys aged child’s basic needs, resulting in serious physical activity is delivered to children. 13 are physically active for less than one impairment of health’ and that’s a world Through the professionalisation of this hour per day. A quarter of children aged away from kids not doing enough sport.” industry, parents will also become more between two and 15 spend six hours Stephen Mitchell, head of consultancy receptive and aware of the positive every weekend day being inactive. at SkillsActive, which owns and operates impact that physical activity can bring.”

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 19 TALKING POINT

House of Lords report on Olympic legacy

he UK government needs to to ensure lasting benefits and for There was also criticism of UK Sport’s provide clear, strong leadership different government departments to “no compromise” approach to funding T and appoint a minister with work more closely with each other on Olympic and Paralympic sports – stating responsibility for producing legacy legacy matters. that it will lead to a growing gap benefits – or the positive effects of Worryingly, the report – entitled between the sports which already do hosting the London 2012 Olympic Games Keeping the flame alive; the Olympic well and those which have little realistic could be lost. That is the key message and Paralympic Legacy – finds “little prospect of developing in the next few of the final report by the House of evidence” of increased participation in years. Here, we speak to key industry Lords Select Committee on Olympic and sport and states that there has been an figures on the findings, as well as Lord Paralympic Legacy. It also calls for strong uneven distribution of economic benefits Harris of Haringey, the chair of the Lords and sustained cross-party co-operation of the Games across the UK. Select Committee.

BORIS JOHNSON LIZ NICHOLL Mayor of London CEO UK Sport

ondon’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy planning ritish Olympic and Paralympic high performance has been recognised as a blueprint for future sport is in a better position than ever before, L host cities; and we are on track to succeed where B thanks to the on-going record investment we’ve virtually no other host city has, by delivering a long- received from the government and The National Lottery. lasting legacy for Londoners. UK Sport is responsible and accountable for investing The legacy of London 2012 means we have secured the right resources, in the right athletes and sports, for the £11bn worth of economic benefit to the UK in just 18 right reasons, to develop the performance system which months, a target achieved two and a half years ahead of will secure the medals to make the nation proud. schedule. We have already secured the long-term future We invest to create winners; British Olympic and Para- of all eight Olympic and Paralympic venues. The former lympic medallists that the entire nation can unite behind. Olympic stadium’s status as a multi-use venue, anchored We’re committed to an ambitious goal for Rio, to become by football, but home to some of the world’s biggest the first nation to be more successful in both Olympic and sporting events, is unparalleled in Olympic legacy history. Paralympic Games post hosting, by winning more medals We also welcome the recent call for the Mayoralty and delivering a stronger, more sustainable system for high to have stronger powers to lead on the delivery of performance sport in the UK to support and inspire the regeneration in east London. Regeneration and the next generation of athletes. legacy from the Games is delivering 11,000 new homes Our investment decisions are aligned behind this goal and 10,000 jobs in the Olympic Park, £6.5bn of investment and to ensure that they are fair and transparent, we’ve in transport, a record number of overseas tourists visiting published Investment Principles which are applied to London and the skills and work experience for 70,000 individual and team sports on a meritocratic basis focused Londoners from under-represented groups needed in the on future medal potential. UK Sport is determined to pursuit of jobs in the future. support all sports and athletes with realistic medal poten- tial throughout all future Olympics – summer and winter. Our view is that our ‘no compromise’ approach to investment, which has led to the transformation of our athletes’ performances at Olympic and Paralympic Games over the past 15 years, is fundamental to ensuring we continue this success. To abandon this now, and effectively dilute our focus, would enable other nations, who want to replicate our success, to seize upon the opportunity. The report wants the Mayor’s office to be given more control of legacy

20 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The report described the squabbling of West Ham and Leyton Orient over the Olympic Stadium “most unedifying”

LORD TOBY HARRIS clout will be able to bang heads together across different departments; like education with its role in school sport Chair of the Olympic and and funding; health, which is supposed to be getting us all Paralympic Legacy Committee more active and healthier; DCMS with its responsibility for the sports governing bodies. Then there all the departments which should be working to deliver the economic benefits not ver the last six months the Lords’ Select Committee on only in London but across the country. the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy held 33 evidence In London itself, the office of Mayor should be given O sessions, heard from 53 witnesses and took written unambiguous responsibility for holding and taking forward submissions from 67 organisations and individuals. Our the vision for East London and the developments in the report (with 41 recommendations) was published last month. Olympic Park and the surrounding area. So what are our main conclusions? As far as sports participation The Games themselves were an is concerned, the step-change outstanding success, exceeding THE IMPROVEMENT IN improvement hoped for did not expectations and confounding the PARTICIPATION HOPED occur. If anything, the slow steady sceptics. The success, however, was improvement seen since 2005 has only delivered through incredible FOR DID NOT OCCUR faltered. Facilities at grassroots level co-operation between the need to be improved and we received numerous organisations involved, much evidence telling us that the the host borough councils and virtually every government scrapping of School Sports Partnerships was a big mistake. department. Since the Games the same political impetus We hunted for white elephants among the facilities created and the imperative of a deadline no longer exist. As a result for the Games. We didn’t find them. However, the unseemly many aspects of the legacy are in danger of faltering and squabbling of West Ham and Leyton Orient over the Olympic some have already fallen by the wayside. There is a lack of Stadium was most unedifying and it is important that more ownership and leadership. effort is made to ensure that the investment in this national That is why we recommended that a single cabinet-level asset is put to good use with maximum possible community minister is given overall responsibility for all strands of the use – including possibly by the football club that was legacy across the United Kingdom. Only someone with senior unsuccessful in the bid process.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 21 TALKING POINT

Although the number of people playing sport hasn’t increased since 2012, there are now more people playing sport than in 2005, when London won the Olympic bid

NICK BITEL JOHN STEELE Chair Chief executive Sport England Youth Sport Trust

ast year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games were or many people involved in sport, ‘legacy’ is a word a huge success and off the back of this we have much used but little understood. Everybody likes L achieved something that no other host nation has F to talk about it, but try and pin down a simple ever done – to increase the number of people playing definition of what legacy is, and you run into problems. sport regularly. Our latest sports participation survey – At the Youth Sport Trust we’re clear that meaningful the largest of its kind in Europe – shows that 15.5 million legacy must centre on building on London 2012’s promise people are playing sport once a week, every week, an to inspire a generation. There’s no doubt that the Games increase of more than 1.5 million since London won the gripped young minds across the nation, however, for us, bid to host the Games. When figures were published in it runs much deeper than a spike in interest, or even a June they showed a small dip reflecting the exceptionally bounce in sporting participation. cold winter when icy roads and waterlogged pitches kept If we are to deliver sustainable change we need to make people at home. The latest Active People Survey figures a difference where it really matters – in primary schools. indicate that once the snow had cleared, people got back The House of Lords legacy report certainly recognises on their bikes and put on their trainers. the importance of investing in primary school teachers, We’re also very pleased that a record number of which is something the YTS has championed for some disabled people and people of BME origin now play time. The government’s funding for primary school sport each week, testament both to the impact of sporting provision is definitely a step in the right direction. the Paralympic Games and Sport England’s increased However, if we are to build a sustainable future for school investment in the grassroots. sport, we need to ensure that teachers are equipped to Although the data shows record participation numbers deliver high quality PE and raise levels of physical literacy. for many areas, we can’t be complacent. There is still Delivering high quality PE should not be underestimated more to be done. Our latest figures show that the and must be viewed as important as literacy and numeracy. numbers of 16-25-year-olds playing sport has declined by To make this happen requires excellent teaching, but 51,000 over the last year to 3.74 million. While this means we know that half of all primary teachers receive less the majority of this age group still play sport regularly, than 10 hours of PE training when studying – with many the numbers are not going up. We’ve seen a sharp drop subsequently lacking the confidence and competence to in the popularity of traditional sports like football and deliver high quality PE. As a result, we’re at risk of failing to netball, and an increased interest in less traditional equip an entire generation with the physical literacy skills sporting activities from dance to dodgeball. We must – running, jumping and catching – that young people need refocus our efforts and respond to these trends. to have a happy and healthy life.

22 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 ADVERTISEMENT PROMOTION

SAFE AND SECURE at Cambridge Sports Centre

Ojmar’s unique locking systems meet the varying needs of users of the new sports centre while also offering easy management and maintenance for staff

he new Cambridge Sports Centre provides a world-class facility for recreation, training and competi- T tion. Completed last summer, the development includes a sports hall, gym and multi-purpose sports area. The facilities cater for students, sports teams and the community, placing unique demands on the centre’s locker facilities. The university required a key- less locking system for its team changing rooms. Ojmar’s OCS Touch system proved the ideal solution for the lockers supplied by Prospec. Simple to use, the locks require no keys or cards to oper- ate. Users simply enter a four-digit code of their choosing to activate and deacti- vate the lock. The system is robust to withstand the heavy usage of sports teams and is also IP55 certified – the highest level of wa- ter resistance available – making it ideal At Cambridge, Ojmar has supplied locking systems that integrate with RFID cards, as well as for humid environments like changing touch system locks operated using a four-digit code areas and washrooms. In the member changing areas for changing rooms, are preset to open via uses of the locker in real-time to safe- staff, students and the public, the lock- an automatic opening facility to prevent guard users and staff from accusations ing solution needed to accommodate people from using the lockers as person- of theft. the centre’s RFID card, which is also al storage space. Staff then collect the The set-up of the two systems, as well used for membership, access control and contents of the lockers for safekeeping, as any changes and maintenance, are cashless payments. Here, Ojmar installed ensuring they remain free for the next performed without needing to open the its OTS RFID system. A simple one-click day’s users. locks or connect to any devices. Master operation allows users to activate and Easy management and maintenance codes can also be altered and cards de- deactivate the lock by pressing their is essential for a busy facility, and the leted by management in just seconds. card on top. Like the OCS Touch, the sys- OCS Touch and OTS RFID come togeth- Both systems are battery-operated, tem is highly durable and IP55 certified. er in one software package, allowing standalone and can be overridden by As an accessible facility, it’s essential both solutions to be managed from one master keys, providing protection in the the centre has adequate locker space standalone system. event of power cuts or data outage. A to accommodate users with disabilities. A master key system also allows the hand-held, standalone programmer also Accessible lockers can therefore only be management to open and close lockers allows staff to read key cards and even activated using a special card allocated in the event of lost cards or forgotten make new ones during power cuts. Both by reception staff. codes without losing the original code systems come with a two-year guarantee. Meanwhile, lockers that are left occu- entered by the user. The system also has For more information: www.ojmar.com pied at the end of the day, in any of the an events log, which records the last 30

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 23 INTERVIEW

NICK KELLER Sports Management talks to Nick Keller, CEO of Beyond Sport, about harnessing the power of sport to help shape communities across the world

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even years ago, Nick Keller, the by bringing together individuals and recognise that achievement and so it founder of the UK’s prestigious institutions such as NGBs, governments, allows us to go to the likes of Barclays, and highly regarded annual BT corporations, professional sports PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Time magazine S Sport Industry Awards, wrote a leagues and clubs. It recognises – and and other great partners – the good and business plan for ‘Sport United’ – a UK- works towards harnessing – the power the great of sports sponsorship.” based awards concept that recognised of sport to create change using a wide Keller and his team have definitely volunteers and the positive impact range of initiatives. been busy. The organisation now runs of sport to inspire communities – but According to Keller, Beyond Sport is a the Beyond Sport Awards and a series shelved it due to a lack of interest. result of his identifying an opportunity of events – including the annual Summit Today, after a subtle name change and also having a track record for and Beyond Sport United – which and International Olympic Committee delivering top-quality events. “I spotted bring together the world’s leading recognition, Beyond Sport has a a gap in the market and it seemed like a social innovators as well as influential, network which reaches 135 countries natural time to do something special,” he global leaders in sport, business and across the globe and is involved with says. “Some of the early momentum was government. He has also created an hundreds of programmes which use developed through our work with the online networking platform, Beyond sport as a tool to tackle social issues Sport Industry Awards and the network Sport World, which allows sports bodies such as health, unemployment, conflict of people we had built with that. and organisations across the world to resolution, gang-related violence and “People trust us, as they’ve seen interact and collaborate. There is also the education. that we’ve delivered with the BT Sport Beyond Sport Foundation, which has so Industry Awards and we’ve always far invested nearly US$5m in inspirational THE POWER OF SPORT been true to our work. I’d like to people and projects in more than 40 Beyond Sport’s vision is to create think that if we say we’re going to do countries. To top it all off, Keller has social change through sport, business something, we go and do it. I think managed to recruit an impressive team and philanthropy. It aims to do this once you do that a few times people of Beyond Sport Ambassadors – former

24 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Beyond Sport ambassadors: (from top WHAT IS BEYOND SPORT? clockwise) Tony Blair, Desmond Tutu The Beyond Sport Foundation and Michael Johnson supports, promotes and develops sport’s role for social change across the world. This is done by offering a business package of cash support, fundraising support and monitoring and evaluation, enabling sport development projects to grow and develop. The projects are selected through a process with a high level of due diligence and the foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in cash and a much greater amount of in-kind business support to more than70 sport for development projects worldwide in recent years. For more information or fundraising opportunities, visit www.beyondsport.org, find the Foundation on Facebook or follow @BeyondSport on Twitter.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 25 INTERVIEW

The foundation helps partner organisations deliver a wide range of sport initiatives which aim to create social change in their own localities

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, archbishop There’s a stat which suggests that London 2012 as a beginning for sport Desmond Tutu, Olympic Champion around £14bn worth of deals were – an inception – I think we should stop Michael Johnson and US senator Bill made during the Olympics last year – a using the word legacy entirely!” Bradley are all onboard. truly phenomenal amount,” he says. “The interesting thing about the likes “The second aspect is the sporting INTO THE FUTURE of Desmond Tutu, Tony Blair and senator legacy and the effect that the Keller says the Beyond Sport network Bradley is that they’re non sports people creation of role models will have on now reaches across 1,000 organisations who have been dealing with issues of participation figures. Thirdly, there and its reputation is growing rapidly. The society for generations,” Keller says. are the efforts that will be made Beyond Sport Summit has grown from “They’re willing to put their name to to use sport as a vehicle for social a one-off event to being a week-long something, which in the past might have development – how sport is used in celebration of the global sports industry’s been thought of as frivolous, but they its many guises to drive people back achievements in initiating social change. take it incredibly seriously. Tony (Blair) is into education, improve the health There are workshops, special sessions currently our chair and archbishop Tutu, of the nation and help alleviate focused on action-taking and policy who has no political gain around this, is problems around antisocial behaviour strategy and high-profile panel talks. The passionate about the power of sport and and inclusion.” awards are still growing in size and now how it can be a phenomenal catalyst for But is the legacy being delivered? “To attract nearly 500 applications each year. peace and inclusion.” decide whether the Olympics have been Looking ahead, for Keller, the mission a real success you can only really look at of Beyond Sport remains clear. He is IN SEARCH OF LEGACY it 10 years on,” Keller says. “Also, for me, looking to attract partners who are In the year since London 2012, the you have to take all three core points passionate about sport as a vehicle question of legacy has commanded a of the legacy together – I don’t think for change – and then help them take considerable number of column inches you can separate them off. I don’t think action. “Our fundamental job is to find and has dominated sport-related you can have success in one without and help leaders who can really make discussions in the corridors of power delivering the other two. Also, if I’m a change,” he says. “I’m not just after at Westminster and beyond. When the honest, I don’t actually very much like people with ideas, I’m after people who question of legacy is put to Keller, he the word “legacy” because it suggests can implement. I want people who have says it can be defined in three ways. an end rather than a beginning. If you an idea and can deliver it rather than “Firstly, there is the business legacy. look at the definition of legacy it is all people who can’t work on their own. The commercial plans for the Olympic about endings and I think we should stop “We’re trying to attract leaders who Park post-Games and also the business referring to what’s happened, I think can uplift their community and that is which was concluded during the Games. we should refer to what happened at our main job.” ●

26 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 www.tigerturf.com RESEARCH

Sports clubs make us happier, healthier and wealthier – so how are they faring?

The Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Sports Club Survey 2013 was published in November. It is the largest ever survey of sports clubs in the UK. SRA chair Andy Reed outlines the report’s findings

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o, how are sports clubs faring? insight into the health of Britain’s grass- reflecting the Olympic Games’ tagline of Is the economic climate stran- roots sports clubs. “inspire a generation” yet. The average gling sport at birth? Are sports club has 90 youngsters – some way un- S clubs still relevant? Did London The general picture der the highest recorded levels in 2008 2012 give them a boost? On almost all of our measures sports when membership levels stood at 108. The Sport and Recreation Alliance clubs are doing better than they were Finances, energy and facility costs as (SRA) provides insight into all of these two years ago. This reverses a down- well as disability sport provision also questions by carrying out an in-depth ward trend which we’ve seen since 2008 remain issues for many clubs. survey of sports clubs every two years. – the beginning of the recession. Our latest report was launched in The average sports club now has 82 Is the economy strangling clubs? October and it gives some intriguing adult participating members – a 20.6 per Things could actually be looking up. insight into how sports clubs have been cent increase since 2011. Club income Club income is now creeping up to the faring in the run-up to, during and post has risen for three years in a row and levels of pre-credit crunch 2008 after London 2012. Nearly 3,000 community there has been an encouraging 20 per the drastic dip of the past few years. clubs from more than 100 sports took cent increase in the number of club vol- There are also more clubs in surplus or part in the survey, and were weighted unteers across the UK. breaking even than two years ago, with to fairly represent the total of 150,000 So is it all rosy for clubs? Not quite. some 76 per cent of clubs now falling clubs in the UK. This gives an unrivalled Junior membership levels are not quite into this category. It’s remarkable – given the fact that the economic outlook remains chal- lenging – that clubs are doing so well financially. This is in no small part down to the careful financial management undertaken by club committees. Four out of five clubs (84 per cent) have taken at least one measure in the past 12 months to increase their income or decrease expenditure. The focus has also been on growing income rather than decreasing costs, showing a real determination amongst local clubs to continue high quality pro- vision for their communities. The top five measures to increase income have been increasing club fun- draising efforts (49 per cent), applying for additional funding (45 per cent), actively recruiting more members (44

PIC: ©WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM /_J. HELGASON /_J. ©WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM PIC: per cent), holding more social events (40 Judo was one of the sports to record significant increases in participation numbers per cent) and increasing membership

28 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Inspired by London 2012? The Sport and Recreation Alliance survey found that volleyball participation has grown by 22 per cent

fees (34 per cent). This seems prudent more. More than one third of all clubs and admirable considering economic Top 10 increases in adult (38 per cent) hire or lease a facility from pressures and the fact that both facility participating members their local authority and any negative owning and non-facility owning clubs changes here will be keenly felt. are facing rising costs. O Weightlifting 45% Much of the fallout from these cut- O Gymnastics 35% backs will be felt in the next few years, The effect of rising energy costs O Table Tennis 29% which could be potentially catastroph- For facility-owning clubs the reality of O Fencing 27% ic for many clubs. The Alliance will be rising energy costs has hit home, with O Tchoukball 27% keeping a close eye on the situation and clubs now spending 38 per cent more on O Volleyball 22% will ensure that we press the case for water rates, 19 per cent more on gas and O Basketball 20% clubs in this difficult time. 10 per cent more on electricity than in O Judo 20% 2011. This is likely to increase in the fu- O Cycling 19% Sports clubs are still relevant ture and we’d urge clubs to take up the O Archery 18% in their communities free energy health check from SRA part- Both in schools and the wider com- ner Utility Aid to make sure that they munity, clubs are building long term are paying the right rates and are made Local authority cuts links which bring benefits to both par- aware of any cost-effective alternatives. Local authorities are at the forefront ties. More than half of the UK’s sports Non-facility-owning clubs (63 per cent of central government cuts, with some clubs (58 per cent) are now working of clubs) which hire their facilities, also seeing their budgets shrink by more than with local schools and of those three say that their costs have increased over 40 per cent. When faced with a budget in four clubs are linked to multiple the past two years, with 21 per cent which can’t even cover the mandatory schools. What’s more, nearly nine in saying they have increased significantly. requirements local authorities must pro- ten school links are reported as being Clubs remain worried. Especially those vide, many have and will be faced with successful. We know that childhood clubs which hire or lease facilities from the unpalatable decision – cut back on membership of a sports club increases their local authority – and rightly so. sport and leisure provision or charge the likelihood of being active as an

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 29 RESEARCH PIC: ©WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM /GALINA_BARSKAYA

Adult participation numbers are encouraging for many sports The Olympics boosted membership enquiries at non-traditional sports, such as archery adult and successful partnership work between clubs and schools is helping to solidify that pathway to being active for life.

Clubs as the social fabric It’s not just schools that clubs are build- ing links with. Sport and recreation boosts not just physical and mental health but also provides opportunities to engage young people at risk of suc- cumbing to antisocial behaviour, helps create social cohesion and can improve educational attainment. Clubs know this and more than half (54 per cent) are proactively running

programmes which engage the com- KALINOVSKY / DMITRY ©WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM PIC: munity. What’s all the more remarkable is that 60 per cent of these projects are entirely self-funded. And as clubs are of the British public wished they had The future engaging the community, so the com- volunteered to help out at the Games. Sports clubs make us happier, health- munity wants to engage with clubs. A similar number also said the Games ier and wealthier. If the government People are wanting to get involved and Makers positively changed the way they wanted to build a network of 150,000 clubs have seen a 20 per cent increase viewed volunteering. community centres which gave as much in the number of volunteers – with the From this, schemes like Join In and to the country in crucial policy areas average club now having 24 in total. Give More have sprung up to try and like health, education and crime pre- Sport already has more volunteers capture that enthusiasm and harness it vention as sports clubs currently do, the than any other sector – 22 per cent of into a tangible long-term volunteering costs would be stratospheric. all volunteers in England – but why are legacy. It’s too early to truly say wheth- So what can the government do to more people now keen to get involved? er this increase in volunteering is a show its support for the sector? The One of the main worries for clubs over sustainable long-term trend, but clubs Sports Club Survey 2013 asked the na- the past few years has been recruiting should use this information to facilitate tion’s clubs just that and five clear and retaining volunteers. greater awareness of the opportuni- topics emerged. The Games Makers were the success ties available for people to volunteer Clubs want the government to make story of the London Games and have locally. It is crucial that they really take it easier to apply for funding that is helped to put volunteering back on the advantage of the groundswell of sup- available to them. Many of those ap- agenda. Research indicates that a third port generated during 2012. plying for grants are volunteers sifting

30 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The experience is that too often lip-service has been paid by both sides of the political divide. This must change and make way for a cross-party approach for long-term improvements

through layers of bureaucracy on top of Clubs also want the government to comments on p.6) and we have long a mound of other commitments. Simpli- make it more affordable to build or been advocates of these changes so fy the processes involved and allow the improve a facility, or to make existing that clubs can access vastly reduced people who need it most to have access facilities more affordable to hire. The rates. We would urge clubs to look out to the available resources. Community Asset Transfer scheme for this in the coming months and see if Clubs also want the government to should be encouraged and promoted your club is eligible. encourage more people to be more in- more widely to clubs, allowing them The Sports Club Survey 2013 results volved with sport and recreation. The to transform land and buildings into are broadly positive and reflect much experience is that too often lip-service vibrant sport and recreation spaces. of the hard work that’s been going in has been paid – by both sides of the Local authorities must also hold firm on to clubs, national governing bodies and political divide – and joined up, sustain- rising prices of hire facilities. the wider sector in the past two years. able and effective policy decisions have Finally, clubs want action taken to It’s a great start, but there’s much that been thin on the ground. reduce the running costs of clubs, remains to be done. ● This must change. We cannot allow such as local rates and utility bills. SRA’s Sports Club Survey looked at a party politics to get in the way and The Community Amateur Sports Club total of 3,000 sports clubs across more a joined-up, cohesive, cross-party (CASC) scheme was recently revised than 100 different sports in the UK. To approach must be enforced for long- by the government (for more on the download the full report as a PDF file, term improvements. new CASC, see John Goodbody’s visit http://lei.sr?a=h2k6m

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 31 TOP TEAM GLASGOW 2014

With less than nine months to go until well as the team leaders responsible the opening ceremony, the preparations for the two most ambitious projects – for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth the 35-hectare athletes’ village and the Games have reached the home straight. conversion of Hampden Park from a We speak to members of the top team football stadium to a world-class athletics in charge of organising the Games as venue for the Games.

DAVID GREVEMBERG CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Could you describe your personal journey in sport so far? I grew up in inner city New Orleans, in a neighbourhood which was 85 per cent African American. The city is completely sports mad and one of the things that was obvious to me from a young age was the power that sport has in bringing people together. Sport was – and still is – a catalyst for empowerment and social change in the city in so many different ways. The combination of me being an international level athlete (freestyle wrestling) and my mother being a social worker and very much involved in civil rights and social justice issues gave me a great insight to it all. I think that is reflected in the way I practice and approach sport today. For me, sport has always been about building friendships. I very much identify with the ideology of “respect everyone, fear no one”.

What was your first job in sport? After a career-ending knee injury in 1994, I was given the opportunity to work with the US Olympic committee in the grants and planning department. I learned about high performance sports planning and was later given the opportunity to develop the high performance plan for the US Paralympic Chris Hoy retired in April 2013, but remains an ambassador for Glasgow 2014 team in the run up to the 1996 Atlanta

32 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Many of the world’s elite athletes have expressed their want to compete at Glasgow 2014

Games. At the time the Paralympic We’ve worked very closely with the movement was very much emerging Commonwealth Games Federation and was still defining itself. By that (CGF) and various client groups to I mean that it was still figuring out define the service levels to make sure whether it was a disability movement we get it just right for the scope and or a sports organisation. It was a very scale of a Commonwealth Games. Also, interesting time and a very defining at the heart of our plans is the aim to time for me personally as the message be a ‘youthful Games’. we decided to go with was that if The Commonwealth has 2.3 billion we truly believe that we are an elite citizens, of which 1.2 billion are young sport movement, then the athletes people under the age of 24. So in terms themselves need to believe they are of the Commonwealth, we’ve looked part of an elite sports programme. to not only take that inspiration and excitement but take it to another level What brought you to Glasgow? and really be empowering to young Following the Atlanta Games, in 1997, people to “be the Commonwealth” and I started to do some work for the “be the Games”. International Paralympic Committee The official tartan of the Games (IPC) and two years later (in 1999) I was was designed by a pupil at the local appointed the sports director of IPC. Shawlands Academy, while the official The Games’ official mascot, Clyde, with That involved a move to Bonn, Germany mascot – Clyde – was the idea of a Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams where the new HQ for the organisation 12-year-old schoolgirl called Beth was being established – in fact I was Gilmour from Cumbernault. These one of the first permanent IPC staff real opportunity to do a Games in a are stories which have already made members. I ended up staying there completely different way. Commonwealth Games history and are for 11 years and worked at a number inspiring for people of all ages. of Paralympic Games, Commonwealth How would you describe The youthfulness runs across all as- Games and World Championships. the Glasgow games? pects of the Games – for example the After the 2008 Beijing Games I decid- We want to see Glasgow 2014 as the young volunteers we’ve enlisted, the ed to try something new and Glasgow ‘people’s games’. As part of that ap- young workforce initiatives we’ve put particularly appealed to me. It was the proach we’ve been careful not to try in place with the construction projects ambition of the city and the way it was and be something we’re not. We want and the apprentices we’ve recruited as at the crossroads of where the Com- to get the scale of things right – we’re part of the workforce. We have young monwealth movement was – and the not the Olympic Games, after all. people delivering these Games.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 33 TOP TEAM

commercial side of the Games, so private where a single team is entirely respon- TY SPEER sector fundraising through sponsorship, sible for an outcome. There’s a lot of DEPUTY CHIEF ticketing and taking care of our prod- “have you talked to them” and “what EXECUTIVE ucts and merchandise are all in my patch. are you doing to complement that”. Trust I also oversee our ceremonial portfolio; comes to it a lot too, because you have to the opening and closing ceremonies, trust that somebody else in the business our festival programme delivery and the is thinking about your needs, just like Could you describe your career so far Queen’s Baton Relay. you’re thinking about your needs and and your journey to Glasgow 2014? The rest of it is a somewhat loose you’re thinking about theirs. I started as an intern at Octagon, a sports brief. As my title suggests, I deputise A successful organising committee has marketing agency outside Washington for David [Grevemberg, CEO] on pretty clear planning targets, clear outcomes, it DC. I spent many years in the agency much anything he needs me to. Also communicates well and all of its teams/ business before being transferred to in the mix there’s some planning work components trust that nobody is in it for Octagon’s Sydney office in Australia, that I support, there’s quite a lot of their own little outcome, but that every where I worked on major events. stakeholder work, with the government part of it is in it to deliver a great final The Olympics were a big chunk of in particular, and I also do some work product – a successful Games. Octagon’s work and that’s why I went to with the various forms of media. Australia, to build up an Olympic-based How strong is the Commonwealth major events business in that market. Could you describe how the Games as a brand? I then transferred down to Melbourne organising committee works? Rather than being brand-driven, I think and ran the commercial programme for The complexity of what an organising our sponsors and commercial partners the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne committee of an event this size and scale see the Commonwealth Games as event- for three years. I then had an oppor- has to do is significant and it’s certainly driven and location-driven. In fact, there tunity to come to the UK and become in excess to the time we have! are very few one-time sports events director of client services for London Normally, if you listed out the work which come to a market and say they 2012. I spent five years overseeing all of that needs doing, you’d give it more are absolutely a brand-led, commercial the sponsorship delivery at the London time, so we’re constantly trying to com- property – I think the Olympics and Olympics – before joining the Glasgow press work into a tight time and space. It Wimbledon are the only ones. 2014 team shortly after the 2012 Games. puts enormous value on creating a busi- So rather than companies wanting ness that’s good at talking to itself and to have the Olympic rings on their What are your responsibilities as has good internal communication. marketing, our sponsors and partners deputy CEO at Glasgow 2014? As part of that, for better or for worse, want to join us because they want to be My role has two or three fixed pieces we’re a very meeting-rich business. We’re part of a major happening. I think they and quite a lot of variable pieces. The intensely interdependent, meaning that are more interested in capturing people’s core responsibility is to oversee the there are very few things that we do attention over a long period of time.

A total of 50,811 people applied to volunteer for Glasgow 2014 – a new Games record

34 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The Queen’s Baton Relay forms part of the Games’ cultural programme of events

GREG WARNECKE What are those challenges? teams working with the venues and The biggest challenge for me is to security. So all three are now working HEAD OF SPORT achieve integration – to make sure together in a close-knit group. that all 17 of our sports will get equal We also have a number of different exposure and attention. We hear internal management forums where some people talk about major sports we work together with a number of or minor sports and we try get rid of different organisational groups which What is your role at Glasgow 2014? that language in a Games environment come together to be able to make As head of sport I’m responsible for because we have to do 261 medal decisions. One example of these, at planning and facilitating all of what you events, including 22 integrated para- board level, is our Athletes’ Advisory would call the “endpoints” – to make sport medal events which is the largest Committee – chaired by Rhona Simpson, sure the athletes will be able to perform in any Commonwealth Games. Scotland’s most capped hockey player. at their very best on the field of play Every medal will be won by an athlete Her presence means that we have an during those 11 days next year. who’s been working hard to achieve athlete representative on the board. I see my job as being the champion for success. Every sport is equal and I think all the athletes. My team and I need to the biggest challenge is to make sure Will your role change during the Games? be able to make sure we can educate our our internal team – as well as the press It will become one of communication, Organising Committee colleagues on the and media – will be eager to showcase command and control – a typical Games- technical requirements of each sport as all 17 Commonwealth sports. It’s a type structure where I will spend, well as the specifications of each interna- challenge but also a great opportunity. unfortunately, most of the Games tional federation. sitting in a room full of television Also, we need to be aware of the Do you work with the organising screens, inside a sort of mission control. unique requirements of the athletes committee’s other departments? I will be relying on my team to be able themselves. An athlete competing in an We work very closely with all depart- to deliver all the plans across the various aquatics discipline will have very differ- ments. We’ve just gone through what arenas we have; the fields of play, the ent needs to an athlete in wrestling. we call “venue-isation” – a typical village, the sport information centre and So it’s everything from understanding Games jargon. It means venue familia- the Games hospital. the habits and demands of each sport, risation and includes a programme of A friend of mine said: “oh, I’ll get to working with the requirements and on-site training and induction joint- see you on the TV,” and I said no, if you the expectations of the athletes and ly held with venue management and see me on the TV that means some- also the ability to take that in to an stakeholders. Our first phase of “venue- thing’s gone really badly wrong. So my organising committee perspective. That isation” took place within the sports role is very much in the background – can be quite challenging. team and now we’ve embedded the but my team will be visible.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 35 TOP TEAM

HAMPDEN PARK

When it opened, Hampden Park was the world’s largest stadium. In 1937 a total of 149,415 people packed into the venue to see Scotland play England in a football international. Since then it has undergone two redevelopments, but none as ambitious as the one it will see prior to the Glasgow 2014 Games. The entire playing surface will be raised by 1.9 metres – to a level above the first eight rows of seats – as part of converting the stadium from a football venue into an international-standard track and field facility. A warm-up track and jump areas will be created next to the stadium at Lesser Hampden, with secure, direct access to the main stadium. Further im- provements will be carried out at both Hampden and Lesser Hampden, leaving a sporting legacy after the Games.

We don’t own the stadium so we need Internally I work as part of the develop- SUZANNE to feed that back to Hampden Park and ment team so we meet on a weekly basis McCORMACK Queens Park Football Club to ensure to make sure we’re all doing the same DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, their asset is looked after. So it’s an end thing from a development point of view. HAMPDEN PARK to end solution. We then have a weekly project team meeting with all who are involved on What are your biggest challenges? the Hampden project. This includes the What’s your background? Bringing all the small bits together and venue operating and the technology I started as an architectural draftsperson making sure all aspects of the projects teams. We also need to keep our part- and went on to work for a practice in are co-e could install the greatest track ners and stakeholders informed so we Glasgow which specialised in stadium de- in the world but if we don’t have the have regular steering group meetings sign. The first football stadium I worked right timing and scoring equipment with the Scottish government, Glasgow on was Hull KC. After a stint in Australia, then we can’t hold an event. City Council, Glasgow Life and Queens I returned to the UK and worked on the Challenge wise we’ve also had some Park Football Club. Projects like this are construction of the London 2012 velo- major deadlines to hit – appointing con- more about people than anything else. drome, where I got the taste for working sultants and getting the right architects on a large sports event. on board. We only recently got on site The timing of it all then worked out (the heavy equipment moved in to the fantastically – soon after we completed stadium in late November), so probably the velodrome I took up a position with the biggest challenges lay ahead – which the Commonwealth Games and re- include the delivery of the track. The turned to Glasgow. last game to be played at Hampden was a Queens Park game on 23 November so What is your day to day role? we had to wait until that was played to My primary role is to make sure the get our team in. conversion of Hampden Park from All our preparatory work has been football to athletics and back to designed so that we hit the ground run- football goes to plan. To do that ning. All of the designs were ready and involves the management of various the materials procured so that when we consultants and expertise to make sure got in, everything was ready to be car- all that information gets co-ordinated ried in and get started. and delivered to the appointed architects, project managers and How do you work together with the The heavy machinery moved into the structural engineers – and also to co- organising committee? stadium in November to start work ordinate it all back to the stakeholders. We have weekly project team meetings.

36 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 ATHLETES’ VILLAGE

Set in Glasgow’s East End, the purpose-built, low carbon village is at the heart of one of Europe's largest regeneration areas and is Scotland’s first large-scale carbon neutral housing development. It will be home to 6,500 athletes and team officials for the duration of The village is located on Glasgow’s east side the Games. The village will offer an exclusive retail area, recreation area, private-sector consortium which will dining hall, medical facility and other build the first 700 units for the Games. amenities for the use of the athletes After the Games, the village will leave and officials. The athletes' village a lasting legacy as 700 homes will be site is being developed by Glasgow available – 300 for private sale and City Council with City Legacy, a 400 affordable houses for rental.

What is the best part of your job? Hampden will be transformed JULIET THORNE The most interesting aspect of my job is into a first class athletics VILLAGE RESIDENT adding all those nice touches which will venue during the Games SERVICES MANAGER hopefully make a real difference and create a home from home type of envi- ronment and allow athletes to perform at their very best. A key vision of Glasgow 2014 is What’s your background? I’ve also enjoyed seeing the village to be athlete-centred. How is that I’m a former swimmer and reached being built. When I arrived about a integrated in the Hampden project? national trials level – although never third of it was still in the laying down We’ve worked closely with the sports made it to Team GB – before my career the foundations stage and the buildings team on the approach we’ve taken came to an end when I was 19. After hadn’t risen from the ground. Walking to ensure the athletes are taken into spending a few years as an operations around it today all the accommodation consideration at every step. manager for airport operator BAA, has been built and parts of it have been The design of the athletics venue which taught me how to deal with nearly completed. will help with that a lot. The warm movement of large numbers of people, up area couldn’t be any closer to the I applied and secured a job working on What have been the biggest competition track so the athletes the athletes’ village at London 2012. challenges with the athletes’ village? have only a short distance to go I started work at the Olympic Village The procurement of all the specialised from warm up to competition. Once about 18 months prior to the Games and service providers and making sure we the athlete turns up from the village worked there throughout the Games. At find the right people and companies at to the track, there’s no hindrance London I did pretty much exactly what I the right price is a challenge. The nature to them. They can enter the “zone” do now – although you could say it was a of the Commonwealth Games is that and not worry about how access to smaller role in a larger village! there are always pressures to make sure a facility works or that they have to money is spent wisely. wait around for something. What is your day to day role? To give you an idea of the scale of the We split the village in four different ar- procurement challenge, during Games Is it an asset to have people in the eas and I’m responsible for one of them, time we will have around 2,700 people team who’ve previously worked on resident services. Some of the services working in the village, but only 50 will major sporting events? are the obvious, essential ones – power, be employed directly by Glasgow 2014. It is highly beneficial but I think there light, water – the rest are all the things The rest will be made up of contractors needs to be a balance. You need that make the athletes’ stay at the vil- (catering, security, housekeeping etc) experience but you also need people lage a little bit special. and volunteers. The challenge is to grow who know Glasgow. Take transport At the moment my role is all about the team with the best people and then – a person who’s worked on a major planning for the village opening on 8 to integrate them and to make sure they event knows how to organise the July. Within the village team there is all work towards the common goal of buses so they leave and arrive in a four of us, each with their own respon- making the village the best it can be. way that the athletes don’t have to sibilities and areas of work. We work We are doing a big recruitment drive sit waiting on a bus at either end. incredibly closely and have an integra- at the moment and it’s about finding But you also need somebody to tell tion together as there is no single part the very best people to come and help you how long it will actually take to of the operations within the village us with that and ensure they are on navigate Glasgow from A to B. which could be done by one person. board quickly and are up to speed.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 37 TECHNOLOGY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

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he trend is clear: professional sports leagues – and the clubs The technological revolution and the emergence of “digital natives” within them – are securing T increasingly lucrative deals to has created a challenge for professional sports; how to engage have games broadcast live on TV. In the and impress increasingly tech-savvy spectators and improve the UK, it is expected that BSkyB – which owns the Sky Sports channels – could be fan experience, while also using technology to increase revenue forced to pay an extra £1.2bn to secure the next set of Premier League broadcast rights, as it goes to battle with rival BT BRINGING THEM BACK to their favourite social media platforms Sport. In North America, the National The decline in attendance can, in some throughout the match. Offering Football League (NFL) signed a nine-year part, be blamed on the wall-to-wall internet access will not only make TV rights deal package with Fox, NBC coverage which is available to sports fans feel more at home, it also creates and CBS which has a combined value of enthusiasts in their own living rooms. endless possibilities for fan engagement around US$28bn (£17bn, €20bn). By opting to stay at home for the as well as marketing opportunities. But while the global sports industry game, fans can check stats and fantasy German Bundesliga club Borussia is benefitting from increased revenue league scores on their mobile device, Dortmund (BVB) is one of the clubs from rights deals, there has been a grab a refreshment without queuing, to invest in connectivity and plans to conspicuous stagnation – and in some have a toilet break without missing any install a complete WLAN infrastructure cases even falls – in the number of of the action (by using “live pause”) and at its Signal Iduna Park. BVB has worked people actually attending games. In even switch from one game (or sport) to in partnership with Chinese telecoms the first six months of the 2013 Major another if the first choice match or event giant Huawei on the project, which League Baseball (MLB) season, total fails to live up to expectations. will have the technical capability to attendances were down 808,000 on The option of staying at home is par- deliver stable wireless data services to a 2012 figures, with 15 of the 30 teams ticularly alluring for “casual” fans – the capacity crowd of 80,000 – equal to the experiencing falls in attendance. The non-season ticket holders who are pre- population of a small town. NFL has similar issues, while in Europe, cisely the type that clubs would want to “We’re a dynamic club that’s always the German Bundesliga has failed to bring to their stadia more often. So how open to new ideas,” says Joachim translate the success of its clubs on the can clubs and venues stem the tide and Watzke, general manager of BVB. pitch to more fans in seats. In Italy, the attract these casual fans? Fight fire with “The new WiFi network will enable situation is even more dire. Since 2000, fire – offer them tech and enable them spectators to use social networks, post the average attendance at Serie A games to bring their comforts with them. pictures from inside the stadium, send has declined from 31,000 to below Connectivity is key and a number of messages, discuss goals, plays and player 22,500 in 2011-12. Last season, 17 of the clubs have begun to install high capacity performance and locate their friends in league’s 20 clubs had grounds less than WiFi at their venues, which will allow the stadium. We’ll also work with Huawei 70 per cent full on average. fans to check stats and stay connected to create the possibility for us to deliver

Lord’s Cricket Ground in London was first opened in the 1890s but has stood the test of time – partly due to investment in new technologies

38 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 exclusive content in our own network, (Above and right) such as details of the team’s initial lineup, Signal Iduna Park, straight to fans’ mobile phones, well home of Borussia ahead of the kickoff.” Dortmund football Another pioneer in providing club, has invested connectivity to improve the “fan heavily in connectivity journey” is English Premier League Manchester City FC. The club appointed to 1899, recently Cisco to provide a high-density WiFi teamed up with network and also invested in the The Cloud, one of StadiumVision Mobile product, which is the UK’s leading capable of delivering live video and other WiFi providers. relevant information to fans’ mobile The venue’s devices. StadiumVision can also be used IT infrastructure to provide multiple channels of unique manager, Paul Long, admitted that short, the rise in mobile device usage content, such match highlights, replays responding to the mobile internet has meant our visitors are demanding and alternate angle views – providing boom was seen as a challenge for different services from us; to help them spectators inside the stadium with similar the traditional venue, but since its get the most out of their visit, we felt viewing options to those enjoyed by fans installation the free Wi-Fi has become a we needed to provide the tools to let sitting in front of a TV at home. much-used part of a Lord’s visit. them do this.” A WiFi network may sit naturally in “When people visit Lord’s they want There is no doubt that the impact a the surroundings of a modern venue access to mobile internet so they can comprehensive stadium WiFi system can like Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, share their experience with friends and make – and the opportunities it offers – but it doesn’t mean that older, historic family,” Long says. “They want to be for fan engagement is becoming clear to sports arenas shouldn’t take part in able to check in at the ground, upload sports marketeers and league officials. the revolution. Lord’s Cricket Ground pictures or videos, tweet, check scores As a sign of this, the NFL has instructed in London, whose main pavilion dates and listen to the live commentary. In all of the league’s 32 teams to install Wi- Fi in all parts of their stadia by 2015.

CelticLIVE JUMPING THE QUEUE Having reliable WiFi throughout a venue Sports media and digital marketing CelticLive has been and fans being able to log onto apps agency Sports Revolution teamed up designed as a ‘second screen’ opens up a number of opportunities to with Cisco Systems to combine a high companion and works like an interactive increase revenue streams through fan density WiFi network at Celtic Park matchday programme. It offers video engagement. One example is food and with a mobile fan app to create an highlights, interviews, player trivia, live beverages. A common complaint among engagement platform called CelticLIVE. stats from OPTA and users can also share fans is that the long queues put them The app, built on Sports Revolution’s exclusive content through the app using off making half time or period brake StadiumLive platform, allows fans to their social media profiles. The success purchases. But what if you could offer view and interact with a wide range of was instant, with more than 15,000 your fans a pleasurable and fluid F&B relevant and engaging club content, people downloading CelticLive when it experience – maybe even a touch of designed to enhance the live match. was launched in October. exclusivity? There are now a number of new mobile apps which allow spectators

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 39 TECHNOLOGY

to beat the queues in busy bars and cafés by placing their order and paying through a smartphone. The idea is simple – a spectator places and pays for an order and will then be notified when the order is ready to collect. One of these services, Q App, is already widely used within the hospitality sector and the company recently signed a partnership deal with technology and sports consultancy Sports Fusion, which will focus on evolving and tailoring the application and making it applicable to a range of major sports venues. Tim Bichara, Q App’s business The control room at Twickenham – a venue which recently spent £75m upgrading its facilities development director, said: “The sports segment is perfectly suited to mobile ordering. We feel the service we offer While having a main screen inside the stadium has the potential to enhance the overall customer experience, while allowing remains the standard, game-time broadcasting stadia and arenas to significantly is becoming available throughout venues increase the number of customer orders processed, up-sell additional products and gain useful insights into their including high definition (HD) solutions London, UK – the home of rugby and customers’ behaviour.” have remained out of reach for many main venue for the 2015 Rugby World small and medium-sized venues until Cup. The stadium’s owner, the Rugby PUT IT ON THE SCREEN recently. The rapid advances made Football Union, decided to invest Large video screens have been present in HD technology over the past five £75m in upgrading the venue, with a at major sporting venues for a while years however, means that the price large chunk spent on a comprehensive now, but some premium products, of installation of stadium-wide HD technical upgrade, transforming an experiences – including large and iconic rugby stadium into one of the (Below) Q App is already widely used in super-sized LED stadium screens – have most technologically advanced arenas. the hospitality industry and is making decreased significantly. Working with consultants Sports inroads into the sports sector While having one or two large, “main” Revolution, the RFU decided on a screens inside the stadium remains 1km-long, mid-tier ribbon LED system, the standard, stadia are increasingly stretching around the circumference of looking to make game-time broadcasting the bowl. While becoming a standard available everywhere in the stadium. in the US, the system is the first of its With a fully internet-based (IP) network, kind in Europe and is used to increase designed to stream high volumes of fan engagement by simple yet effective media at once, it’s now possible to make messaging that can be changed and HD video available on hundreds of edited in real time. digital displays throughout the stadium, Elsewhere, the King Power stadium, creating a more immersive experience for home of Leicester City FC (LCFC), boasts all. This means that replays or alternate some of the highest resolution screens camera angles are no in UK football. The club partnered longer confided to with digital specialist ADI to install two the one main screen Virtuality v8 30sq m screens as part of (or scoreboard), but a comprehensive matchday broadcast can be shown on TV solution. LCFC has also invested in its displays throughout in-house media department and is able the stands, press area, to create and manage content and premium clubs and programming independently. on the concourses to So while the techonological advances entertain fans queuing have revolutionised the at-home for refreshments. experience of sport and entertainment, An example of venues are fighting back with their own a stadium which is solutions for fan engagement. It could be investing heavily only a matter of time before the balance in such systems is tipped back in favour of the live in- is Twickenham in game experience. ●

40 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The Total Solution… from “Concept to Construction” SPORTS FACILITIES

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 41 SUSTAINABILITY SERVING GREEN

Major sports events are increasingly investing in reducing their carbon footprints and making themselves more environmentally friendly. The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the events to have earned a reputation as a green pioneer. Tom Walker investigates

ur courts may be blue, but strategy were manifold, but at the centre we’re thinking green.” PAPER PROCUREMENT were two key issues – the need to match That’s the environmental spectators’ increasing expectations of “O pledge of the United UÊÊ / iÊÓ°{“ʘ>«Žˆ˜Ãʈ˜ÊÌ iÊ}i˜iÀ>Ê seeing green initiatives in practice and States Tennis Association (USTA), the concession area are comprised of cutting the burgeoning energy costs. national governing body for tennis, 100 per cent recycle material Since its launch, the green initiative which hosts more than 700,000 fans UÊÊ
Ê1-Ê"«i˜‡Ài>Ìi`Ê«Àˆ˜Ìi`Ê has resulted in more than 850 tons of each year during the two weeks of the materials (media guides, waste being diverted through recycling US Open at The Billie Jean King National marketing collateral and the Daily and composting; saved more than 1,100 Tennis Center in New York. A grand Drawsheet) were composed of at tons of greenhouse gas emissions; offset venue for a Grand Slam, the complex least 30% post-consumer waste enough electricity to power 600 homes houses a total of 22 courts across 46.5 UÊÊ 1-Ê"«i˜Ê̈VŽiÌÃÊ>ÀiÊ«Àˆ˜Ìi`ʜ˜Ê for one year; recycled almost 1.5 acres and has been home to the US Open paper comprised of 30 per cent million plastic bottles; and delivered a every September since 1978. The centre’s post-consumer waste, and parking campaign to reduce private transport so three main courts are among the largest books, parking visors and coupon that most of the fans now arrive using tennis stadia in the world, with the books are printed on paper public transport. main arena – the Arthur Ashe Stadium – comprised of 10-15 percent post- USTA has increased and diversified boasting a capacity of 23,200. consumer waste. its green initiatives each year since The green thinking pledge was UÊÊ / iÊ«>«iÀÊ̜ÜiÊ`ˆÃ«i˜ÃiÀÃÊ 2008 and this year the governing body formulated in 2008 as part of located throughout the spectator came up with a record number of new USTA’s efforts to implement more areas have been replaced with schemes. Among the fresh projects environmentally-sound practices at motion-sensor dispensers were the creation of a compost from the US Open. The reasons behind the waste collected in 2012, which was used to feed plants at the 2013 tournament. There were also measures to influence fan behaviour. Working together with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), USTA put together a 30-second public service announcement entitled “Impact” – broadcast regularly during the event – encouraging fans to reduce their paper, water, and energy use in order to lessen the collective impact on the environment.

WORKING TOGETHER As well as the partnership with the NRDC, USTA has teamed up with other organisations as part of its green strategy. In 2012, it joined the Green Sports Alliance, an organisation of

Rafael Nadal, winner of the 2013 US Open, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City

42 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 SPORTS ARE HUGELY INFLUENTIAL AND CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN CAUSING A ‘GREEN’ RIPPLE EFFECT, ENCOURAGING INDUSTRIES AND CONSUMERS TO IMPROVE THE CHOICES THEY MAKE EVERY DAY

RECYCLING & COMPOSTING

USTA introduced a number of new green initiatives to influence fan behaviour

UÊÊ / iÀiÊ>ÀiÊv>˜ÊÜ>ÃÌiÊÀiVÞVˆ˜}Ê programmes in place with recycling and compost receptacles throughout the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. UÊÊ
ÊÌi˜˜ˆÃÊL>ÃÊÕÃi`Ê`ÕÀˆ˜}ÊÌ iÊ matches and player practices are collected to reuse in USTA tennis sports teams, venues and leagues programmes and donated to The Billie Jean King National Tennis aimed at enhancing the environmental various community and youth Centre in Flushing Meadows has hosted evolution of professional and collegiate organisations throughout the US. the US Open event each year since 1978 sports. That co-operation led to the UÊÊ Àœ“ÊÌ iʎˆÌV i˜ÃÊ>ÌÊÌ iÊ1-Ê"«i˜]Ê US Open becoming a part of the third more than 12,000 gallons of food annual Green Sports Alliances Summit The tennis legend whose name grease will be converted into held in New York. The summit saw 500 the stadium carries is an enthusiastic biodiesel fuel. industry professionals, all with roles in supporter of the Green Initiative. UÊÊ œÀiÊÌ >˜Ê£näÊ̜˜ÃʜvÊvœœ`Ê>˜`Ê sustainability, visit the US Open. The “To solve the serious environmental compostable plates, utensils and USTA also hosted delegates for a behind- problems facing our planet, we need to napkins will be collected to be the-scenes tour of its work to lessen the shift our culture toward more sustainable turned into compost for landscape event’s impact on the environment. practices,” Billie Jean King says. and farming uses. Gordon Smith, USTA executive “Sports are hugely influental and can director and chief operating officer, play a significant role in causing a ‘green’ said: “Our commitment to reducing the ripple effect of enormous proportions, environmental impact is an important encouraging industries and consumers endeavor and we are continually seeking alike to improve the choices they make ways to enhance our greening efforts. every day. I’m proud to have helped With the comprehensive ecological launch the greening of the US Open programme we’ve established at the US and the USTA Billie Jean King National Open, we hope to foster environmental Tennis Center with NRDC and I applaud progress and inspire fans to create a they work they are doing to green All US Open balls will be donated to clubs positive change.” professional sports.”

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 43 GRASSROOTS

HE GR T A Rugby league is the more popular code of rugby in places such as G S S N

Australia, but the sport is still considered to be playing second fiddle I R

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to rugby union in the UK. That could change following a successful O

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World Cup this year and plans to grow the sport’s grassroots ● IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN

he year 2013 has been a big one captured the public’s imagination. There ever before. The 14-nation tournament for rugby league in England. was success on the pitch too; England in October and November coincided with The World Cup, the sport’s came within 20 seconds of reaching the the ending of the season for grassroots T premier event, returned to final, playing a brand of rugby which was rugby. This year, 2013, was only the these shores for the first time since a genuine advert for the game, especially second season that the amateur and 2000. As the tournament – co-hosted for those unfamiliar with the pace and youth leagues were run predominantly by England, France, Ireland and Wales power of rugby league. as a summer sport, following a decision – is part of the UK’s “Golden Decade of Brian Barwick, chair of the Rugby by the RFL to change from a winter sport Sport”, it received unprecedented media Football League (RFL), said the in 2011. Gent expects the timing of the attention. England’s games were shown tournament was a success both tournament to enhance the effect it will live on BBC and viewing figures were commercially and due to the effect it had have on participation. phenomenal with 2.3m tuning in to see on improving the sport’s profile. “The “2013 will be massive for the sport England’s semi-final loss to New Zealand. World Cup exceeded our expectations in at grassroots level and we hope that Ticket sales were encouraging too, terms of people going to games and the the World Cup will inspire the next with nearly 500,000 tickets being sold for media interest it received,” he said. “I generation of rugby league players,” the 28 games which were played across think it’s partly the legacy of the London he says. “The build up to the World 21 venues (15 in England, three in Wales, 2012 Olympic Games – people have got Cup during the summer bode well for two in France and one in Ireland). The into the habit of going to events.” the sport’s second March to November 74,468 crowd for the final at Old Trafford season. Everyone learnt a lot from the was the largest ever for a rugby league BUILDING ON SUCCESS first summer season (in 2012) and we’re international. Perhaps more tellingly, RFL director of participation, David Gent, confident that this season we will have 10,000 tickets were sold for a game at predicts that the World Cup will leave a seen even more people playing rugby.” Leigh between minnows Tonga and lasting legacy which will see more people Matt Birkett, head of community game the Cook Islands – proof that the sport playing rugby league more often than programmes, adds that the tournament

The RFL’s programmes include those designed for primary school children

44 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 England’s World Cup games were shown live, with 2.3m viewers tuning into see the semi-final against New Zealand was a great vehicle to introduce the game to the masses. “We had large numbers of people attending the World Cup games who’d never been to a rugby league game before,” he said. “I believe around 60 per cent of tickets were bought by people who hadn’t purchased a ticket from the RFL before. “In terms of the wider opportunities, there are obviously participating opportunities threaded within having increased the profile of the game – and the inspiration of watching a game. “Let’s also not forget the commercial side of things; encouraging commercial partners to the game through an international tournament and then hopefully being able to build on those relationships – whether that’s within IT’S CRITICAL FOR US TO MAINTAIN CLUBS IN THE MORE the professional sport or indeed with NON-TRADITIONAL AREAS IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND grassroots sport – in terms of their engagement and competition.”

GET THEM PLAYING conducted with its stakeholders – led programme area there are individual According to Sport England’s Active by interim chair Maurice Watkins. The products, services and intervention People Survey (ASP), there were 51,100 findings of the Watkins Review of Rugby initiatives to increase participation. people playing rugby league at least League Governance were published One of the recent campaigns, launched once a week during the year to October in July 2012 and among the report’s during the World Cup to maximise its 2012. The figure made it the 24th most recommendations was a call for further reach, is the Play Touch Rugby League popular sport played in England – investigation to be made into the initiative, which sits within the “touch someway behind rugby union, which appropriate level of RFL support for and tag” group of RFL programmes. was 13th on the list with 183,000 regular clubs, youth development and player Designed for people over the age of 14, players. A quick study of the ASP figures production systems. the format is based on a minimal contact reveals there was a decline in rugby Currently, all RFL’s grassroots projects version of the sport and is marketed league participation since ASP 2 (October designed to increase participation are as a fast, skilful, action-packed activity 2008), when 82,000 people were playing divided into seven different programme played in a fun and social atmosphere. the sport on a regular basis. areas – touch and tag rugby; community According to Gent, the idea is to make The decline, however, has been clubs; competitions and leagues; primary it attractive to those who have never stemmed over the past 18 months, rugby league (all rugby taking place played the sport of rugby before – and partly thanks to a comprehensive under the age of 11); secondary schools; to attract new operators wanting to add consultation process which the RFL colleges; and universities. Within each rugby to their range of activities.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 45 GRASSROOTS

HISTORY OF RUGBY LEAGUE

The two codes of rugby were born out which was determined to run rugby as of a disagreement, in the 1890s, over an amateur sport. Initially the NRFU whether players should be paid com- continued to play under existing RFU pensation for missing work for match laws, but over time made changes to commitments. The clubs in favour of the rules which today means that a paying players – all in the north of game of rugby league is played at a England – formed the Northern Rugby quicker pace with fewer disruptions Football Union (NRFU) in 1895. The than rugby union. One of the major move eventually led to the NRFU clubs changes was made in 1907 when the severing their ties with the London- number of players in a rugby league based Rugby Football Union (RFU), team was changed from 15 to 13. The latest Sport England figures show that 55,700 people play rugby league on a regular basis

“With touch rugby we’re hoping to school rugby league campaign which says: “Most of our clubs are in the attract delivery partners from outside our it developed in partnership with the north, but it’s critical for us to sustain immediate rugby league community,” Youth Sport Trust (YST) and a number clubs in the more non-traditional areas. he said. “The game can be played both of other national governing bodies. The number of clubs in the north east, indoors and outdoors in an area about It is based on YST’s Start to Move London and the Midlands has grown the size of a five-a-side football pitch. programme – ensuring best practice significantly over the last four years and Leisure centres with sports halls or in child development and physical it will be vital for our sport to continue artificial turf pitches are ideal venues. The literacy. The scheme covers years one to grow in these areas.” pilot programmes have been extremely to six, although the earlier years are The growth of any sport will be greatly successful, with venues regularly delivered as multi-sport programmes and helped by easy access to maintained, attracting 150 players on a weekly basis.” rugby league-specific activities aren’t safe facilities. RFL’s Community Facilities All Play Touch Rugby League activities introduced fully until year five. Strategy focuses on a number of key are delivered on a licence basis, and Looking ahead, the RFL has set itself issues – with improving existing pitches according to Birkett, the scheme has ambitious participation targets. From the a priority. According to Carol Doran, been well received, having already base figure of 51,100 in 2012, it aims to RFL’s national facilities manager, there is reached its target of 50 venues. increase the number of regular players room for improvement when it comes to “We hold the license for the brand and (those who play at least once a week) community facilities and pitches. sell them to a wide range of partners,” to 56,100 by October 2014 and to 66,100 “Many rugby league pitches are in a Birkett says. “These include professional by October 2017. It’s well on its way – poor condition which impacts on their clubs, community clubs, colleges and the October 2013 APS figures show that playing capacity,” she says. “A good universities and we’ve also signed a 53,500 are now playing the sport. quality pitch can accommodate around deal with five-a-side football operator three matches a week, while a poor Powerleague, which will see ‘Play Touch FACILITIES quality only one. With a limited capital Rugby League’ programmes delivered There are around 350 community rugby budget we don’t have the option of at 22 of its facilities across England. league clubs in England, with another building lots of new clubhouses. The licences provide quite a significant 100+ clubs and teams run by universities, “We are, however, working with Sport amount of central support, so the delivery colleges, schools and the armed forces. England on the design of a modular partners are given an opportunity to While the majority of clubs are based facility which will be a more affordable generate income from touch rugby.” in the north of England, the RFL is keen option. So we’re focusing most of the The RFL is also working hard to to grow the sport in the south – where investment into improving the quality introduce the sport to younger rugby union is the more dominant code. and capacity of existing pitches rather children. It recently launched a primary Dan Steel, RFL’s national club manager, than identifying new ones.” ●

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 47 SPORTS TRUSTS Getting into sport

Sports trusts across the country are introducing innovative programmes in order to increase participation. We look at a selection of initiatives that look to attract two key groups – young people and those who have to overcome physical barriers to take part in sport

Soundball tennis aids visually impaired

ORGANISATION Aquaterra Leisure PROJECT Soundball Tennis

layers with visual impairments are benefiting from an association P between Metro Blind Sport, a London-based sports and social club for blind and partially sighted people, and the Islington Tennis Centre, where sessions use specially adapted soundballs allowing players to hear the ball. The two-hour soundball tennis sessions are held on Fridays for advanced players Players can hear the specially adapted balls coming who can rally, and Sundays for beginners and people who are totally blind, where volunteers, as well as the tennis coach, I was left in no doubt that this is a game to be enjoyed are on-hand to support the players. The across all abilities and levels. Being visually impaired standard rules of tennis apply with just a few modifications: if you’re totally blind, doesn’t have to be a barrier to a healthier lifestyle you’re allowed three bounces; and if partially sighted you’re allowed two. The sessions are funded by Sport which is managed by leisure operator develop their game, and the facilities Islington, which distributes Islington and registered charity Aquaterra, first allow all ages and abilities to take part.” Council and SportsAid funding each year ran soundball tennis in 2011, but its Raising the profile of the activity is to support local sports clubs and help popularity led to the programming of bringing results. Islington Tennis Centre young sports people develop within their regular weekly sessions. hosted a regional LTA one-day visually chosen sports. Islington Tennis Centre, “I’d been keen to try out adapted impaired tennis camp in September, tennis to fully appreciate how the game supported by Metro Blind, and is also and its equipment feel. The answer hosting a junior taster session for is: brilliant!” says Ian Francis, sports soundball tennis in November. development officer at Metro Blind Metro Blind Sport was recently named Sport. “After two hours of competitive Sport Islington organisation of the year matches, a few drills, coaching tips and at the Sport Islington and Islington plenty of friendly banter, I was left in no School Sport Partnership awards. Sport doubt that this is a game to be enjoyed Islington chair Michael MacNeill says: “It across all abilities and levels. was heartwarming to see Metro Blind “Being visually impaired doesn’t have Sport win, particularly as it’s their 40th to be a barrier to a healthier lifestyle. year and one year on from the success of Volunteers are on-hand to support the players Regular coaching encourages players to the Paralympics.”

48 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Youth action

ORGANISATION Live Active Leisure PROJECT Active Energy scheme A flashmob marked the launch of the youth membership

ive Active Leisure (LAL) launched a summer of mystery visits around LAL- week, compared to 61 per cent of males its new Active Energy membership operated venues to establish young Females are more likely to exercise in L for 12- to 15-year-olds with a people’s thoughts on how accessible a school/campus environment and males flashmob in Perth City Centre in May. the products, services and venues were. slightly more likely to use a sports centre The flashmob, which saw Perth and They also carried out mystery phone The fitness gym was equally popular Kinross Youth Legacy Ambassadors lead calls and used the LAL website to find with males and females, but classes and an aerobics session, was the culmination out about activities. swimming proved more popular for of a two-year research project with local After a summer of mystery visits, the females, and team sports for males youngsters into how LAL should deliver Youth Council members fed back their Younger people are likely to want to leisure for its young residents. findings, making key observations on exercise with their peers, whereas older Perth and Kinross Youth Council how the services could be improved, as respondents were less likely to do this approached LAL early in 2011, having well as identifying the next stage: using As a result, LAL launched its Active identified a number of key areas a questionnaire to ask young people how Energy membership for 12- to 15-year- where they believed they could make they wanted LAL to deliver their leisure. olds – at 30 per cent cheaper than the a significant impact on young people’s Over 250 young people aged 12 to 17 previous membership – with unlimited lives – one being physical activity. years responded to the questionnaire, swimming, sports hall activity, access After attending Youth Council with the findings showing that: to some adult fitness classes, all Active meetings, LAL’s marketing team and Females are less likely to exercise Energy fitness classes, and access to gyms youth councillors, along with their outside of PE lessons: only 41 per cent of with an adult or to a supervised Active Youth Council worker, had the idea for females exercised at least four times a Energy session.

Breaking barriers

bringing their son to the pool,” he says. ORGANISATION “They had to leave almost as soon as Inverness Leisure they got in the water, as the experience was too stressful for their child. PROJECT “Our coaching and instruction staff Helping children with autism had been trained by the National Autistic Society (NAS), and by Highland Council’s outreach team on working with nverness Leisure has launched a free children on the autistic spectrum, so we Swim Access Scheme for families had a good understanding of the needs I affected by autism, thought to be of children with autism. We decided to the first of its kind in the UK. do something about the situation our Inverness Leisure offers autistic children and In partnership with the National customer described, creating a scheme their families six free swimming vouchers Autistic Society Scotland, Inverness that would offer families the chance to Leisure developed an illustrated booklet prepare themselves to come swimming.” to water in order to build their for parents and carers detailing the In addition to the booklet, each family understanding and confidence,” various experiences and sensations they is also provided with six free family swim adds Martin. “The scheme also has might come across at a swimming pool. vouchers, allowing them to ‘acclimatise’ the additional benefit of introducing The scheme was created after CEO themselves with swimming at Inverness children on the autistic spectrum to a James Martin was approached by a Leisure pools. very family-based activity, giving them customer with an autistic child. “They “Swimming is a life-skill, and it’s the opportunity to improve their social had experienced difficulty and expense important that everyone has access development skills as well.”

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 49 SPORTS TRUSTS

Transforming lives

The multi-sports sessions have helped ORGANISATION make Joseph aware that others may not Impulse Leisure play the same as him, and he’s learning to accept rules and understand why PROJECT they are there. His social skills have Short Breaks also improved, along with his listening and turn-taking skills, running ability and hand-eye co-ordination. He’s more mpulse Leisure’s Short Breaks confident, more body aware and more initiative has been running across aware of other people. He’s now learning I its three West Sussex sites for three to tap dance, which is having a positive Disabled children can try new activities which years. The scheme, for disabled children effect on his hyper-mobility disorder. develop their social skills and their families, gives kids a chance to In the past, Joseph could become try new activities – from trampolining extremely angry over something that – has enabled Impulse Leisure to increase to aqua therapy, table tennis to football had happened, but this has become less levels of participation by offering low- and multi-sports sessions – while parents so as his verbal skills have grown and he’s cost sessions and activities. have some well-deserved time off. become more confident that the staff, Impulse Leisure received the first Ten-year-old Joseph Greaves is just one who tailor sessions around his interests, batch of funding in 2011, which financed child who’s benefited from the scheme. are there to help him. two Fun Days at its Lancing Manor and He has classic autism, sensory processing Short Breaks funding – part of the Southwick sites, and a Fun Day and After disorder, hyper-mobility and chronic government’s Aiming High for Disabled School Clubs at Chanctonbury Sport & bowel disorder, and has been attending Children programme, designed to Leisure, giving the trust valuable insight sessions including football, gymnastics, transform services for children and young into what children and young people tennis, cricket, basketball and dance. people with disabilities and their families with disabilities wanted.

Personal development

Recent developments from Valley adventure experiences were as a five- ORGANISATION Leisure include a three-day camping day residential trip for Year 6 pupils,” Valley Leisure residential for 70 local secondary says James Blyth, Valley Leisure’s school children, and termly Year 5 assistant manager for sport and activity PROJECT primary school Adventure Days, which development. “Ofsted found the more Explore Outdoor throughout the year build on skills such exposure to adventure activities young as teamwork and communication. people have, the more they get out of “Ofsted’s review into outdoor the five-day trip. We’re therefore not alley Leisure’s outdoor adventure learning found that the majority of competing with trips, but rather offering activity programme, Explore schools offering outdoor learning an opportunity to complement and V Outdoor, enables eight- to develop skills on a more frequent basis.” 14-year-olds to participate in instructor- Research in the Test Valley area had led activities such as canoeing, archery, shown that one of the reasons schools climbing, bushcraft, and orienteering to didn’t regularly visit leisure facilities was develop map skills. because of the costs involved, not only Valley Leisure has worked with for the activity but for transportation over 50 community and school- too. Valley Leisure therefore boosted based groups in the last two years the success of Explore Outdoor by to deliver their ‘learning outside the purchasing a mobile climbing wall, Land classroom’ curriculum – a personal Rover, 10 Canadian Canoes, mobile development curriculum that supports archery solution and other equipment. the government’s Learning Outside the Explore Outdoor now delivers tailored Classroom initiative, designed to ensure sessions to special needs schools, scout that every young person experiences the groups, local rehabilitation services, world beyond the classroom as part of NEET groups, Pupil Referral Units and learning and development. The outdoor activities help build key life skills local events in Test Valley.

50 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Effective sport and leisure facility operations lead to high performance levels and customer retention

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Kate Cracknell talks to professors Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner of Urban-Think Tank, the team behind the revolutionary Vertical Gym concept

Hubert Klumpner (left) and Alfredo Brillembourg (right) of U-TT THE ONLY WAY IS UP

What sort of company is theoretical standpoint. What defines and the expertise of previously sepa- Q Urban-Think Tank (U-TT)? an urban environment? Who are the rated fields with the ultimate goal of U-TT is an interdisciplinary design prac- actors at work in determining what improved urbanism: politics, design, tice dedicated to high-level research draws people to urban areas? What are research, education, NGOs, community and design in architecture and urban- the different sectors within a city and leaders, international finance groups. ism. It’s partnered with ETH Zurich, the which demographics have settled in These actors are all at play within the university where we both lecture on ar- each? All of these are questions we ask city and have a hand in its successes or chitecture and urban design. ourselves before engaging with proj- its failings, and we seek to integrate The point of departure for our ects on the ground. them all the way through the decision- research is architecture’s failure to Finally, from a design standpoint, in- making process. define informal urban settlements formality allows for innovation: while (shantytowns) and their effects on the there are set rules governing much of What sort of projects does U-TT city. Our current research and our work the formal realm of design, there’s no Q get involved with? over the past decade aim to increase such rulebook in the informal sector. We close ourselves off to nothing. That understanding of the informal city from We operate under an experimental re- said, we specialise in designs particular- three perspectives. search and teaching methodology which ly for urban slums. Our most extensive Firstly, from a humanitarian stand- rethinks the former physical limitations work has been focused in Latin Ameri- point, urban shantytowns are wracked of contemporary architecture, shift- ca, but we also have projects in the US, with problems, not least of which are ing the emphasis from form-driven to Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, and poverty and a lack of support from purpose-orientated social architecture. have several Europe-based projects in professionals. Secondly, there’s the We aim to merge the methodologies the pipeline.

52 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The Vertical Gym is a kit model adaptable to many environments

We focus on slums because informal shift of interest. We hope researchers through several floors to make an ef- communities are where we’re seeing and developers see our work and are ficient use of space in the dense urban the most rapid urban growth at the inspired to follow us into the informal environment. Vertical Gym takes this moment. Mega-cities like Athens are city, working to blur the dividing lines thinking and adapts it for the informal shrinking as people flock to mid-sized between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. sector, using a frame and a set of mate- cities. These mid-sized cities are ill-pre- rials which are feasible for lower-cost, pared for such surges in population, One of your concepts is the informal sector construction. and as a result informal communities Q Vertical Gym. What is this? Our pilot Vertical Gym opened in spring up which are easily expandable. The Vertical Gym (Gimnasio Vertical) is 2004 in Barrio La Cruz, Caracas, Ven- If these are the current and future sites a replicable prototype – a kit of parts ezuela. It transformed the site of a of growth and urbanism, we want to be which can be assembled in custom former makeshift soccer field into a fit- right there in the throes of it all. contexts and modified to fit different ness complex with a total floorspace of Along with a clear and pressing need programming, financial and ecologi- 1,000sq m, offering basketball courts, for urban design, these areas tend to cal demands. It consists of three floors a dance studio, weights, a running be swept under the rug by those who and a rooftop court and provides an track, a rock-climbing wall have the tools to bring about the most extremely efficient variety of spaces for and an open-air soccer field. change for good. There’s plenty of re- different recreational activities. The former training ground was locat- search being done and policy being We came up with the idea when we ed at street level and due to the densely created for the formal sectors, but as were both studying at Columbia Univer- built surroundings could not expand the formal city shrinks and the informal sity in New York City. The university gym outwards. The solution was to build up- balloons, we can’t ignore the call for a was built underground, going down wards. The first of its kind, this Vertical

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 53 URBAN DESIGN

There are currently four Vertical Gyms in Venezuela, either complete or under construction, including the site in Chacao (above and right)

Gymnasium now bustles with activity people want to play football, to release not and a project gets put on the back- day and night and currently welcomes the day’s tension by going for a run, burner. We haven’t had to face this an average of 15,000 visitors a month. to impress their girlfriends with their situation too frequently. Nonetheless, We’ve been particularly happy to find muscle definition. They want what any politics tends to be a big challenge in ur- out that it’s helped lower the crime rate formal community wants. If you build a ban developments around the world. in this barrio by more than 30 per cent gym in the formal sector with next to no since its inauguration. barriers to entry, you don’t have to beg How can cities become All of our Vertical Gyms are non-prof- people to use the facilities. Q healthier places to live, it entities. That said, the cost to users However, the key to maximising use work and play? varies depending on the municipality of the facility is to engage in community The problem of inactivity is so heav- in charge of the complex. In the case involvement from the beginning of the ily concentrated in cities. We believe of our Barrio La Cruz pilot, use of the design process. We were on the ground encouraging people to live more active soccer complex is completely free and asking residents of the barrio exactly lives comes down to two things: conve- there’s a very low membership fee for what they wanted and what their neigh- nience and enjoyment. use of the gym equipment on the upper bours needed most. This practice gives People often make the less active floors. All costs bring in revenue to the the community a stake in the construc- decision – driving to work rather than body running the complex, but not to tion and design of the structure. As a biking, for example – simply because the extent of running a profit. result, they own a piece of its success it’s more convenient. If we make active as well as its condition in the future. A choices just as convenient for urban What does it cost to build a sense of collective ownership and re- dwellers, if not more convenient, we be- Q Vertical Gym? sponsibility is very much a part of the lieve they’ll make the healthier choice. The gym itself is a highly adaptable pro- positive benefits – such as the reduced Additionally, no-one dislikes having totype which can be easily replicated crime rates – and high frequency use fun! Designers should try and incor- and altered for the needs of the locale that we’ve seen with our Caracas gym. porate as many elements for fun into or the client. One of our prototypes fea- everyday active design as possible. If you tures a steel frame, while another uses Are there any other Vertical could take a series of slides and stairs both steel and concrete. Choice of mate- Q Gyms yet? from your office to your home, high rials will alter costs a bit, but excluding There are four Vertical Gyms in Ven- above the busy city streets, your inner the cost of land, building each gym has ezuela, either complete or under child would not be able to resist and you so far come in at about US$2m. construction. We also have a proposal would make the more active decision – The gyms we’ve constructed in South for one in Amman, Jordan, as well as not that we’re proposing such a mode America have been financed by a com- New York City. They all differ slightly: of mass transit infrastructure, but you bination of private investment and city some incorporate a swimming pool, see our point. mayors. These sites function primarily to while others are attached to larger serve low-income communities and pro- infrastructure such as Metro Cable sta- Do you have plans to further vide public space, so they don’t directly tions. The variations are based on the Q evolve the vertical model? generate profit from the end users. needs of the community, or what munic- Right now we’re particularly interested That’s not to say the design couldn’t ipal bodies financing the projects deem in adaptable social housing. We’re look- cater for a different crowd and generate most useful for their districts. ing at options for retrofitting existing high returns. A high-end version could infrastructure, such as multi-storey car easily be retrofitted into New York’s Up- What are the biggest parks, with modular design tools to per East Side, for example. The model is Q challenges when creating a incorporate aspects of city-living – dry malleable to the desires of the client. Vertical Gym? cleaners, housing, parks, dining – into When working with municipalities, a single vertical structure. We’re ex- How did you engage the there’s regular turnover of people in- perimenting with the possibilities that Q inhabitants of Barrio La Cruz volved in a project. What one mayor present themselves when you take the Little persuasion was needed. These might prioritise, his/her successor may street and its functions into the sky. ●

54 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The A to Zaun of sports and play fencing.

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 55 SPORTS CONDITIONING

ffice workers in central London who would jump at the chance of using their lunch breaks to O train like a professional athlete are in luck. For they are the target mem- bers of City Athletic, a new premium TRAIN LIKE A sport and fitness club located between Bank and St Paul’s. Launched in December 2012 with a mission to make sports conditioning achievable for all, the 465sq m (5,000sq ft), open-plan strength and condition- CHAMPION ing gym is dedicated to helping members achieve professional-standard results. Its Nicole Hearn pays a visit to London-based owners say the approach has proved a great way to differentiate the club from City Athletic, which offers City workers the its competition and hit a passion point opportunity to train like elite athletes for its target audience: working men and women aged 22 to 55 years old. The club was five years in the making – an ambition and dream of its business partners, former cricketer Ben Clay- pole and fitness world champion Shaun “Our pre-opening research showed super-gym. We wanted to offer our cli- Stafford. Having worked together as per- that members of conventional gyms ents a really personal, bespoke service sonal trainers for more than 15 years at didn’t feel they were provided with that delivered ‘more bang for their buck’ a large gym chain – they decline to name enough support and that the service and better results for the individual.” the brand – they say they shared similar was lacklustre,” explains Claypole. “This frustrations when it came to the choice inspired us to focus our efforts on creat- A SPORTING DESTINATION of equipment available to members and ing a medium-sized gym which bridged Together with running shoe and clothing the service offered. the gap between a PT studio and a retailer Sweatshop, City Athletic had the

56 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The club offers a sprint track and equipment from Life Fitness

idea of joining together with comple- Nick Mennell, EMEA education & mentary businesses to create a full and global journey manager at Life Fitness, unique experience for members. This Strong is the new comments: “City Athletic is one of the resulted in the creation of Trump Street, warehouse-style strength and condi- an immersive training space which spans skinny – consumers tioning gyms that are rapidly on the three floors and includes the City Ath- want to be fitter, rise. They are part of a new wave of letic gym in the basement, with The unconventional gym models that are Running School (a complete technical faster and stronger coming onto the market. support unit for runners), The Altitude “Strong is the new skinny – consum- Centre (for specialist hypoxic training), ers want to be fitter, faster and stronger Perfect Balance (an elite rehab clinic) and – and strength and conditioning gyms the Sweatshop on the other floors. provide the perfect way to do this. They Each company recognises that, in STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING give the everyday consumer the chance the same building, they have some of From the outset, Claypole and Stafford to discover their inner warrior and the best qualified, most experienced wanted to focus on strength and condi- achieve incredible results. City Athletic professionals in their given area, and tioning to deliver the fast, high impact allows members to undertake sports- regular meetings ensure all teams are results they knew would appeal to their specific training, which isn’t always easy fully briefed on new starters and up- ambitious City executive target audi- in a conventional gym when you’re dates within Trump Street. The aim is to ence. Alongside unique features such as fighting for a piece of equipment.” identify what’s most important for each a two-lane sprint track, the gym floor Monthly packages at City Athletic member and cross-refer to get the very houses the very latest Life Fitness equip- start at £75 off-peak, going up to £110 best results for that individual. ment including Elevation Series CV, for a full membership. “Our member- “The idea was to create a fitness Lifecycle GX bikes, rowers and Integrity ship capacity is purposely capped at 400 destination that people could use to Stairclimber. Meanwhile, for strength to ensure members are given enough take their specialist training to the next training, Hammer Strength HD Elite, space to work out, and that they get level,” enthuses Claypole. “Whether the custom-built power racks and lifting personal service. In fact, we believe our user is new to sport or a seasoned triath- platforms are on offer, alongside a full gym has the greatest square foot of lete, we believe they should have access complement of fixed and free weights space per member of any fitness centre to the same elite services and products including Life Fitness Signature Series in the City,” says Claypole. usually saved for professionals.” equipment and a Cable Motion DAP. He continues: “There are many

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 57 SPORTS CONDITIONING

Members generally want a bespoke training plan that delivers fast results

different reasons why people train at motivation, Claypole and Stafford also clubs like City Athletic. Some want a life- create 30- to 45-minute ‘workout of style change, some want to change their The short-term goal the day’ programmes, as well as setting body shape and others will be training for City Athletic is monthly challenges. for particular sporting events and char- All new starters are given an in-depth ity challenges. But what members have to create a thriving assessment with a PT, during which in common is that they want a training goals and aims are agreed, resulting in programme that’s bespoke to them and business model that a bespoke workout plan and timescale that delivers specific results fast. They in which to achieve the results, along want to train among like-minded people is financially stable with nutritional advice. Goals might vary who are as focused as them and who from losing weight and changing the want to achieve similar end goals.” shape of their body to scratch training “In the meantime, the club’s PTs and for a competition or event. FOCUSED TRAINING fitness staff are able to encourage the “Around 50 per cent of members will Alongside members who want to train ‘normal member’ to train correctly, be training for a particular event at any like a professional, City Athletic has also which is the main thing. The intensity, given time, but trainers encourage all of attracted a number of actual profes- alongside the advice and motivation on their clients to aim towards something sional sports people to its facility. These offer, is what sets us apart from stan- they can compete or participate in. We include Fulham Football Club, former dard health club training. Members are believe this will drive a member for- boxing heavyweight champion David educated to understand how and why ward,” says Claypole. Haye, national championship parkour athletes train like this and the results Although there are no sports-specific runners, Division One footballers, crick- speak for themselves.” group training sessions, PTs will tailor eter Nick Compton and a number of Members have the choice of train- any private sessions towards customers’ West Ham and Brighton football players. ing in three ways: one-to-one bespoke specific needs for their event. Around “These professional sports men and PT sessions, independent training, or 70 per cent of members invest in PT, at a women often have their own train- semi-private group sessions. The lat- cost of £60–80 an hour. ing programmes written by their team ter is included in the membership and But even if they’re training indepen- coaches and trainers, but come to City caters for a maximum of six members dently, members can expect some input Athletic to use the top-end facilities and to guarantee personal service, with from the in-house professionals. “The equipment they don’t usually get in sessions covering strength-focused fat gym is deliberately spacious and open- London,” says Claypole. “They also inter- loss, core and stability work and Broga plan with nowhere to hide; if someone act with our PTs to exchange ideas on – a dynamic form of yoga aimed at is training incorrectly, a PT can see and high performance training. men. To help keep things fresh and aid be on-hand to help and give advice,”

58 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 GET A LES MILLS ® GRIT TEAM IN YOUR CLUB

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Around 50 per cent of members at City Athletic will be training for some kind of event at any one time

says Claypole. “We worked closely with SPECIALIST STAFF Life Fitness not only to provide high quality equipment, but also to create ll 11 staff at City Athletic – they have the right skills and atti- the right environment.” including receptionists – are tude and that they complement the A fully qualified, best-in-class existing team. They must all hold FUTURE PLANS PTs qualified in a range of specialisms qualifications such as Poliquin Quali- The short-term goal for City Athletic is to including strength and conditioning, fication Level 3 (international athlete create a thriving business model that’s posture correction, rehab, nutrition standard), Paul Chek (holistic, pos- financially stable, says Claypole, adding: and sports-specific training. ture), UKSCA and university degrees “We want to change the bodies and the All new trainers must pass a vigor- including Sports Therapy, Sports Sci- performance of 400 members within our ous recruitment process to ensure ence and Sports Medicine. first year of business, giving them the vi- sion and appreciation that their original goals were only the start.” with its founders acknowledging how are looking for a training facility that’s Eight months after opening they’re important this will be in driving word of different from the norm,” observes Life on track to reach these goals, with mouth and personal endorsement. Once Fitness’ Mennell. “Every day, we’re see- 260 active members. The club is also the model is working perfectly, Clay- ing a shift away from the cardiovascular carrying out recruitment drives, run- pole and Stafford plan to roll out more focus of the traditional gym floor and I ning wellness days at local businesses. sites in city locations. “Consumers are can only see this momentum increasing However, the main focus is to ensure becoming more aware of the benefits of and impacting the fitness industry more all existing members reach their goals, strength and conditioning training and and more. ●

60 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Home changing room at Chelsea FC

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Putting it right

Tottenham Hotspur’s grounds manager Darren Baldwin hit world sporting press headlines in July, when he was called in to rescue a playing surface deemed too dangerous at the Barclays Asia Trophy finals at the Hong Kong (So Kon Po) Stadium

purs’ grounds manager Darren make-shift undercover areas. In this case, the host club, South China, who are also Baldwin is living proof that a a few gazebos were sufficient – and with Spurs’ partner club in the region. groundsman is always on call. large ice baths not available in Hong “Everything was going fine up until S Baldwin was in Hong Kong Kong, we improvised with a child’s large the semi-finals (on July 24 2013) when with the Spurs squad, helping with plastic padding pool. torrential rain waterlogged the stadium the team’s training requirements and “However, things don’t always go to pitch – so much so that the games were facilities, when he was called in to plan: I had specifically ordered eight of only 80 minutes duration rather than advise the local grounds staff at So Kon 1.5m x 1m mini goals for our practice the usual 90 minutes. It was clear that Po Stadium. Torrential rain had put the the pitch had irrigation issues, and I was Barclays Asia Trophy – a pre-season called in (by The Premier League) to friendly competition – under threat as work collaboratively with the stadium’s the rain had left the pitch in a condition I knew we had to instigate grounds staff, checking on what they which posed a potentially severe threat an immediate emergency had planned to resolve the situation. to the safety of players. “I knew we had to instigate an programme of spiking immediate emergency programme TAKING A TOUR and applying sand of spiking and applying sand – many “Whenever the Tottenham Hotspur tonnes of it – if we were to be able team travels abroad for a tournament, I to stage the final. Thankfully, after visit the training and stadium venues in many hours hard work and much co- advance,” Baldwin says. “While we want sessions, but our hosts weren’t able to operation from the Hong Kong grounds venues to meet with our own standards source these and it was impractical to staff and volunteers, we regained a we need to take into account the local bring them from the UK so our coaching pitch which, while not perfect and not culture and not step on other people’s team altered their training programme aesthetically pleasing, was playable toes. It’s important to tread carefully accordingly.” and most importantly safe, both for and to be respectful to our hosts. Darren also joined the team for the our match against South China and the “At Kowloon Cricket Club, the Hong tournament itself. The Barclays Asia game between Manchester City and Kong tournament’s training venue, the Trophy is held every two years and in Sunderland FC.” team required stretching and massage 2013 was contested by Manchester City, areas, so it was my job to sort out some Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur plus CAREER PATHS Baldwin’s first taste of groundsmanship came at the age of five, sitting on his father’s lap while he mowed the local pitch at Buckhurst Hill, north London. His interest in turf management started back then and in October 1988 at the age of 16, he spent three weeks on work experience at Arsenal Football Club. In July 1990 he was offered the position of assistant groundsman at Arsenal where he spent the following six years under head groundsman Steve Braddock. In June 1996, one of the less publicised transfers of personnel between the two famous north London clubs took place when Darren was lured Torrential summer rain rendered the pitch at the Hong Kong stadium unplayable to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club as

62 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The challenge faced by Baldwin in Hong Kong (above); At work at the Kowloon Cricket Club, Spurs’ training venue during the Barclays Asia Trophy (above right) head groundsman. At the time he was the youngest head groundsman in the history of the English Premier League at the age of 24. In the summer of 2000, he was promoted to the newly formed grounds manager position, with overall responsibility for the club’s White Hart Lane stadium and the extensive Spurs Lodge training facilities at Chigwell on the outskirts of London. Nowadays he oversees most of the work and misses hands-on groundsmanship. “If the staff see me out mowing, then they know It takes a large team to manage the (IOG) Groundsman of the Year 2007 and that’s my way of calming down if we’re 45 acres of maintained turf; Baldwin in 2010 won the IOG’s Sportsgrounds under pressure,” he says. has 23 staff working permanently on Management Team of the Year. He and site, including a mechanic, irrigation his team won the same award for the TRAINING DAYS engineer, secretary, head groundsman, second time in 2012. This year, Darren According to Baldwin, his biggest project and head gardener. He remains won the IOG’s prestigious accolade of to date was overseeing the construction committed to the industry with his Campey/Imants Professional Football of the club’s new £45m training facility continuous involvement with various Groundsman of the Year at the IOG’s on 77 acres of ‘Green Belt’ land at Bulls bodies including the Premier League Industry Awards ceremony, which was Cross in Enfield. The project had been 10 Grounds Managers group and the held at the Ricoh Arena on 5 December years in the planning and one Baldwin Professional Playing Surface Committee. (read more on the awards pn p.62). has been totally involved with from Commenting on the award, IOG CEO the start. The training centre is one AWARD WINNER Geoff Webb said: “Darren is a fantastic of the most ambitious projects in the Still relatively young at 41 years old, ambassador for groundsmanship. He’s club’s 131-year history with the grounds Darren can lay claim to many accolades always helping others with their turf featuring a mixture of sand based, throughout his career. He was voted management issues and the work he’s Desso and Fibresand pitches for the first, Premier League Groundsman of the Year overseen at Tottenham’s training ground development and academy squads. 2007, the Institute of Groundsmanship is second to none.”

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 63 NATURAL TURF

The IOG event, held at the Ricoh Arena, attracted more than 350 professionals from across the European groundscare industry Football to the fore at IOG Industry Awards and ‘Raising the Game’ conference

ore than 350 of the UK Hotspur FC, recounted his experiences by Tony Stones, stepped up to receive the and Europe’s leading this summer in Hong Kong during the IOG Professional Sports Ground Team of groundscare experts as Barclays Asia Trophy (see pp. 60-61 for the Year Award. The Wembley team is M well as dignitaries from the more); Andy Cole, head of stadia services charged with producing and maintaining governing bodies of sport and influential at the Sports Turf Research Institute, a world-class playing surface for a myriad sports administrators, attended this enlightened delegates on stadia and of elite sporting events – a mixture which year’s Institute of Groundsmanship training ground pitch preparation in presents a unique range of challenges. (IOG) Industry Awards to honour the the run up to the FIFA World Cup 2014 Most notable is the pitch turnaround expertise, dedication and passion of the in Brazil; and former Aston Villa head time between events, which can see an country’s grounds profession. groundsman Jonathan Calderwood NFL (American football) game staged reflected on how winning an IOG award back-to-back with football, followed by RAISING THE GAME last year helped shape his recent move to rugby then NFL again – all in the space of Now in its fifth year, the prestigious Paris Saint-Germain. a month. The stadium’s uses also include ceremony at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena Also, following a presentation by filming for adverts and movies. recognised leadership, innovation and consultant Professor Eric Harrison on Lee Jackson, Etihad Stadium’s head outstanding achievement across every ‘Protecting your investment through groundsman, received the award for aspect of groundscare – and it followed effective management of synthetic turf’, the IOG Governing Bodies’ Professional a day-long series of ‘Raising the Game’ a panel of sports turf experts discussed Spectator Sports Ground of the Year – conference presentations where football the rise of synthetic turf and technology which is co-sponsored by the All England was a predominant subject. and its impact on groundsmanship. Lawn Tennis Club, the England and Wales During the day’s proceedings, Darren The panel included turf consultant Cricket Board, the Football Association, Baldwin, grounds manager at Tottenham David Rhodes, Alistair Cox from turf the Football Foundation, the Lawn Tennis tester Labosport, Dr Tim Lodge from Association, the Premier League, the Agrostis, pitch installer Support in Sport, Rugby Football League and the Rugby and head groundsmen at Hampton Football Union. School Clive Liddiard and Swansea As well as being Manchester City FC’s University’s John Courtney. home ground, the Etihad Stadium also hosts events such as the Rugby League AWARD-WINNING EXPERTISE Magic Weekend and closed season pop The expertise of UK football concerts, of which there were six in groundsmanship and the calibre of the 2013. Plans going forwards include an nation’s football stadia were recognised expansion of its capacity from 48,000 when Darren Baldwin was given the IOG to just under 61,000, which has proved Campey/Imants Professional Football significant in the stadium being chosen Groundsman of the Year Award and to host an England pool game for the Darren Baldwin (left) receiving his award Wembley Stadium grounds team, headed 2015 Rugby World Cup. ●

64 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The Turf and Grass Expo 2014 is the world's platform for learning, discussion, www.turfandgrassexpo.com networking and business.

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 65 ARTIFICIAL TURF

LAYING IT DOWN A look at some of the latest synthetic pitch installation projects from across the UK.

CASE STUDY - FieldTurf

PROJECT: Professional standard rugby pitch LOCATION: Cardiff Blues rugby club, Wales

ardiff Blues, one of the four professional rugby union teams in Wales, decided to install an artificial C grass playing surface at its Cardiff Arms Park home ground. The club, winner of the Anglo-Welsh cup in 2009 and of the European Challenge in 2010, chose FieldTurf as its supplier for the new pitch. With the FieldTurf Optimum RGF 65 system, Blues players will benefit from a safe and high-performance surface, tested according to the stringent criteria set by the International Rugby Board (IRB). The new £0.5m surface will enable the Blues to play in stable conditions throughout the year. The FieldTurf Optimum system features a soft and strong fiber with resistance and durability, giving the Blues a long term solution for The durability of their players and supporters. The pitch was installed in the artificial sur- partnership with Tony Patterson Sportsground. face means the new Cardiff Blues CEO Richard Holland said: “The new surface pitch can be made allows games to go ahead in any weather and hopefully available to local enable us to play a more expansive and attractive game for community clubs supporters to enjoy. There’s also the wider community to consider and our aim is to make the pitch available for teams pitch. They are a big rugby team always looking for per- in the Blues region to play and train on. We’ve put a great formance and we are going to help them achieve their amount of effort into researching the different surfaces objectives with our sports solutions.” available and I’ve no doubt that the new artificial pitch of FieldTurf has so far completed more than 7,000 FieldTurf will be a hit with players and supporters alike.” installations worldwide – which include a number Ralph Jorissen, Vice President at FieldTurf EMEA said: of leading football clubs, such as FC Barcelona, Ajax “We’re very proud of being the supplier of the Blues’ next Amsterdam, Paris Saint Germain and Borussia Dortmund.

66 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 CASE STUDY - O’Brien Contractors

PROJECT: New hockey pitch LOCATION: Oswestry School, Shropshire

’Brien Contractors installed a new hockey pitch for the Oswestry School in Shropshire earlier this year. The The £430,000 O 15-week, £430,000 project included the construction project will of a 6,300sq m sand-dressed synthetic grass hockey pitch and help the school included earth modelling, fencing and floodlighting. improve its sports The pitch was built predominantly for hockey and was programmes installed upon an in-situ rubber shock pad on an engineered base and involved the construction of a spectator area, According to general manager Steve Hillman, one of drainage, sub base, fencing and flood lighting. Additional the biggest challenges the O’Brien team met with was to works included access roads and a car parking facility with make sure the works didn’t disrupt the school and that the bollard lighting. The pitch will be used by the school and the construction caused no adverse effects on a live site. local community for hockey and football. O’Brien worked with Andrew Legg – a former consultant Founded in 1407, Oswestry School is one of the oldest non- at Strategic Leisure – on the project. The flood lighting denominational schools in England and is an independent, was supplied by Christy Lighting while Lee Brothers were co-educational day and boarding school for pupils between contracted to provide the fencing. the ages of four and 18. Andrew Legg said: “O’Brien performed to schedule, Phil Bowd, bursar at Oswestry School, said: “The end result programme and budget and utilised competent sub is spectacular and we’re very pleased with the outcome.” contractors and suppliers.”

CASE STUDY - TigerTurf surface. The wear had a detrimental effect on both the performance and aesthetics of the pitch, which affected PROJECT: Full-size, professional football pitch the performance of the first team as well as prevented the LOCATION: Hamilton Academicals Football Club club from making the pitch available for community use. Following a tender process under an FF/FA/RFU framework agreement, turf manufacturer TigerTurf UK hen Scottish football club Hamilton Academical collaborated with Chieftain Contractors to manufacture FC experienced a series of winter fixture and install a high performance football pitch at New W postponements due to adverse weather conditions, Douglas Park. The system chosen for the installation was the Scottish Championship outfit decided to explore the TigerTurf’s Total Turf 60XQ, which is a leading 3G surface possibility of installing a synthetic playing surface. The consisting of two unique profiled fibres, which is part-filled north facing pitch at the club’s New Douglas Park stadium with sand and rubber infill. had suffered from prolonged exposure to Scottish winter The individual components of the system combine to weather, which, when coupled with a demanding fixture provide split resistance along with improved performance, schedule, caused rapid deterioration of the natural playing durability and visual characteristics. In addition, with the venue also playing host to elite level rugby, the field had to be fitted with a 23/130 shock pad, which gives the critical fall height protections needed to maintain the required safety standards. Faced with a very short lead time, TigerTurf produced the pitch in three weeks, during which Chieftain prepared the base works for the turf to be installed. From tender to the completion of the installation, the project took just five weeks. On completion of the £400,000 installation, Shaun Fagan, commercial manager at Hamilton Academicals, said: “Although we had very particular requirements, we were able to interpret the brief we supplied and exceed our requirements with the delivery of the synthetic turf system. “The product itself, Total Turf 60XQ, alongside the additional bespoke anti-flood measures will ensure that we will be able to use our facilities all year round, giving us the potential to increase revenue and have much happier fans The new pitch will allow games to be played in all weather conditions and a better training/playing ground for our players.”

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 67 ARTIFICIAL TURF

CASE STUDY - Thornton Sports The size of the pitch was also increased to provide a new facility approximately 1,000sq m larger than the school’s PROJECT: Full-size sports pitch old facility. The full-size pitch was then enclosed with new LOCATION: Bishop Rawstorne school, Lancashire perimeter fencing and floodlighting and completed with the installation of sports equipment and construction of a new access path. The sports equipment was supplied and orks have recently been completed to provide installed by GTC Sports. Bishop Rawstorne C of E Academy in Croston, Work took 12 weeks to complete and was undertaken W Lancashire with a brand-new 3G sports pitch. within a ‘live’ school environment, hence it was important to The school initially approached Thornton Sports for ensure efficient and safe site access. A traffic management assistance back in 2012. Following a formal tender process plan was agreed with the school to identify suitable access and successful planning approval, Bishop Rawstorne routes and delivery times. Risk assessments were also in place elected to proceed with Thornton Sports to provide the to prevent unauthorised site access and ensure access was 6,235sq m pitch. The surface chosen was Thornton Sports’ conducted in a safe manner. UK manufactured SoccerTurf 40M 3G sand/rubber filled Paul Cowley, headteacher of the school, said: “Once work synthetic grass. This surface meets the IATS standard and began we weren’t required to do or manage any aspect hence is ideal for football, whilst also being FIH-approved for unless we wanted to. The build went ahead smoothly, hockey use. without fuss and was on time.”

The school will use the pitch for football and hockey

CASE STUDY - SIS

PROJECT: Full-size rugby pitch LOCATION: Coram’s Fields park, London

prime London community sporting hub has chosen the latest 3G pitch technology as part of legacy plans ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2015. Tucked away A The pitch markings will allow a number of different sports in the heart of the city near Russell Square, the seven-acre Coram Fields park was awarded protected status under the Queen Elizabeth II Fields in Trust 2012 scheme. “This is our first installation contract in central London and Operated by a charity, the site caters for children and is a particularly prestigious tender to win,” said SIS Pitches young people and offers a range of sports, particularly director Phil Blackwell. “To my knowledge, Coram’s Fields is football and rugby but also tennis, cricket, basketball and the only full-size facility of its kind in the area.” netball. Facilities also include youth and children’s centres, The Supreme 60 sand and rubber crumb infill surface a community nursery, a farm and a café. can be marked out for several modes of football including It is the sports programme however, which is set to expand five- and seven-a-side and rugby and replaces the existing dramatically, now that the site’s new 3G synthetic surface, synthetic pitch that was no longer fit for purpose. installed by manufacturing and installation specialists The surface is manufactured from the same premier SIS Pitches, allows Coram’s Fields to cater for sports quality yarn SIS used for the Rugger 65 pitch it supplied for programming seven days a week. The contract was awarded Premiership rugby champions Saracens in early 2013. The by sports pitch consultancy MSC for what is a highly strategic contract included improvements to the perimeter fencing site – and one of very few city centre synthetic pitches and SIS Pitches will maintain the pitch for 12 months, capable of sustaining intensive community and club use. including a deep brush every three months.

68 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Maintenance machinery . . . .

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 69 The latest news from SAPCA and its members

Harrod UK heralds an exciting age for Rugby

Harrod UK played its part in this year’s Rug- by League World Cup final by supplying its 17m Millennium Rugby Posts for the game. Played at Old Trafford, the game saw Austra- lia demolish New Zealand 34-2. “Rugby is certainly on a high at the mo- ment and Harrod UK has been at the heart of it since supplying posts for the rugby tour- nament at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India,” commented sales & marketing man- ager of Harrod UK, Kevin Utton. “This was followed by us also supplying the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup in New Zealand, the 2012- 13 RBS Six Nations, and the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens In Moscow.” Harrod UK also worked in conjunction David Moorcroft speaking at the Sports Facility Show at Allianz Park with the RFU to supply 100 rugby posts to counties across the UK to commemorate the two-year countdown to England hosting Sports Facility Show 2013 the Rugby Union Word Cup. addresses challenges facing sport

Allianz Park, home of Saracens Rugby Club, wel- the UK, as one of the world’s most successful comed a host of industry specialists for the final sporting nations, has one of the lowest levels of Sports Facility Show of 2013, run by SAPCA, The physical activity. We should focus on creating a Sports and Play Construction Association. The single strategy for sport for the next 10 years show focused on sports facility funding, design, and bridging the gap between play and sports, development and management and showcased a particularly once children reach 12 years of age, special focus on synthetic turf. when many aren’t as likely to actively engage in Opened with a special seminar by former sport as their younger counterparts.” The university’s new pavilion 5,000m world record holder and Commonwealth The event included expert industry speakers gold medallist, Dave Moorcroft OBE, the show and 47 dedicated exhibitors, welcoming anyone £4m sports complex approved hosted a variety of seminars covering a huge involved in the funding, design, development and for University of Nottingham range of key topics for facility owners across management of sports facilities, from sports clubs the sporting spectrum, aimed at engaging with and schools to leisure operators. Planning permission has been granted for the those involved in the development of facilities. Chris Trickey, SAPCA CEO, was thrilled with University of Nottingham’s £4m Riverside Speaking about the legacy of the London 2012 the turnout: “The Sports Facility Show remains Sports Complex which will feature two Games, Dave Moorcroft stressed the need to an indispensable aid to help those involved in al- purpose-built sports pavilions designed by focus on actively creating change. most every aspect of indoor and outdoor sports Nottingham-based CPMG architects, with “We need to create a movement to help pro- facility development. It’s absolutely invaluable to Kier as the main contractors. mote change,” he said. “It’s hugely ironic that anyone involved in the industry.” The 800sq m pavilions will provide spacious and flexible changing facilities as well as a viewing gallery to support the university’s thriving representative and Register of Playwork Professionals launches intramural sports programmes. The site is one of the largest sports Following a successful four-month pilot, the staff have relevant qualifications and adhere to playing fields in the country and once work is launch of the Register of Playwork Profes- the industry’s nationally recognised standards. completed the two pavilions will provide the sionals at London’s Hayward Adventure Lesli Godfrey, UK strategic lead for Play- necessary changing provision to support the Playground was warmly welcomed as an work and the Children’s Workforce, said, 20 full size football pitches, five rugby pitches, exceptional resource for ensuring children “Play is fundamental for children’s health two lacrosse pitches, one American football have the best opportunities to play creatively. and development. The register will raise pitch and three cricket squares, making it The new register meets the growing pub- the profile of playwork within the children’s one of the best sites in the country for large- lic and private sector demand that playwork workforce, ensuring rigorous standards.” scale sporting events and tournaments.

70 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Looking for a supplier? Interested in becoming a SAPCA member? Tel: +44 (0)24 7641 6316 • www.sapca.org.uk

Smith Construction to lead White Horse Contractors £1.4m revamp at St Mary’s School boost sport at academy White Horse Contractors (Northern) has Smith Construction has undertaken a £1.4m completed the design and build of a 3G contract to provide St Mary’s School in Ascot, sports pitch and five-court MUGA at North Berkshire, with new sports facilities. Durham Academy. The redevelopment of one of the UK’s The company was chosen by main con- leading Roman Catholic boarding schools for tractor Carillion Building to redevelop the girls aged 11-18 will feature an extensive range natural and artificial sports facilities. The of facilities, including an athletics track, hockey construction of two natural grass pitches pitch and dedicated training space. and a long jump with polymeric running The school has invested in equipping its 55 track completes the build. acres of grounds with high-quality sporting “Our brief was simple – construct an facilities including a six-lane, 400m athletics all-weather 3G synthetic pitch to a high track, complete with an eight-lane 100m sprint standard for full-size and five-a-side foot- straight; pole vault; hammer and discus facility; ball use,” explained Jim Crabbe, water jump; shot put and long jump. It will also White Horse Contractors (Northern) feature a full-sized hockey pitch to comply with contracts director. “The surface chosen FIH specifications, complete with training areas was a 60mm sand/rubber pile synthet- and an equipment store. ic grass sports carpet and fully meets the The contract was awarded to Smith FA’s Guide to Artificial Grass Pitches for Construction for its 30 years’ experience in the Community Use.” industry and its in-house capabilities, following The new school has invested in a a competitive tendering process. complete athletics facility

Henley-on-Thames club plans new health and fitness facilities

The exclusive club at Phyllis Court, Henley, has new changing facilities. Club secretary, Graham The new MUGA at the academy applied for planning consent for new health and Owen, said: “The new building is important to fitness facilities intended to expand its offering the future of the club by widening the range of to club members. facilities we can offer. St Benedict’s School While the club currently provides a range “Securing planning permission will be an welcomes Playrite surface of sporting and non-sporting activities, it important first step to deliver sustainable new lacks good quality health and fitness facilities. facilities and I hope the application will be St Benedict’s School in Bury St Edmunds The proposed building has been designed by supported by our members and the public.” recently welcomed the replacement of its Gloucester-based architects Roberts Limbrick The application is due to be determined by four multi-sport courts, which had become to address this by providing multi-purpose next February and can be viewed online at the rundown by being well utilised over the activity studios, a gym, a swimming pool and South Oxfordshire District Council website. years. Following the success of Playrite’s Matchplay 2 in the area, on projects such as Kesgrave and Mildenhall schools, it was the obvious choice when replacing the existing pitches at St Benedict’s. All four courts were replaced with Match- play 2 in sporting green with inlaid lines for different sports including netball, hockey, football and tennis to better position the school to provide essential sporting facilities. Playrite’s Steve Byrnes engaged in an extensive consultation with the school to understand its use of these facilities and how An artist’s this would impact surface considerations. impression of A major contributor towards Matchplay the Henley club 2’s recommendation was that it meets All England Netball preferred standards.

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 71 The latest news and views from SAPCA

Prime spot for community Awards and accolades: SAPCA congratulates… football supported by McArdle Sport-Tec & TigerTurf

TigerTurf recently teamed up with McArdle Sport-Tec to design, manufacture and install a full-size football pitch at the Newbridge High School Academy. The 3G synthetic turf pitch is a first for north west Leicestershire and has been part- funded by the Football Foundation under its framework agreement. Specifically created for football, TigerTurf’s Soccer Real 60XQ has been tested to meet FIFA 1 and FIFA 2 Star standards. The new facility includes drainage, goal recesses, hard-standing areas, footpaths and a new car parking area. The QE Olympic Park venue includes four indoor and six outdoor tennis courts “The synthetic turf is the ideal solution for Newbridge High School as it can be used during wet weather and won’t degrade Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after consistent use,” explains Paul Langford, managing director at TigerTurf. recognised for ‘elite’ facilities “This is particularly important as the FA have designated it a prime spot for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which hosted The facility is Spadeoak’s second facility to ob- community football.” the London 2012 Paralympic Games, welcomes tain Two-Star ITF Recognition, the first being at a brand new installation of tennis equipment at Eton Manor, Olympic Park, London, consisting its Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, which of nine tennis courts which staged the hugely recently received ITF Recognition. successful 2012 London Paralympics wheelchair The venue includes four indoor and six out- tennis event. The DecoColor surface was sup- door tennis courts. The Spadeoak installed plied by California Products Corporation, a DecoColor courts were tested against the rec- company specialising in court surface industry and ommendations contained in the ITF Guide to Test a long-standing member of the ITF Foundation. Methods for Tennis Court Surfaces and gained the Two-Star ITF Recognition award, which demands Specialist equipment the highest quality of installation. The new installation also includes specialist The new surface at Newbridge High equipment, including: blue court screens and Ready for elite play 2mm thick, 50mm mesh, white polypropylene This confirms that the courts are of a standard divider nets that are flame retardant treated to Replay Maintenance partners demanded by elite level play; a standard that has BS 5867 part 2 type b performance. with East Midlands CFAs secured them selection by the ITF to stage the The additions were manufactured and in- NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters 2014-2016. stalled by Edwards Sports, through H & J Martin. Replay Maintenance has signed a partnership deal with the five County Football Associa- tions (CFA) residing in the East Midlands O’Brien Contractors named as Company of the Year – Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicester- shire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. O’Brien Contractors has been named as The partnership will enhance the mainte- Company of the Year in the 2013 Cham- nance provision for artificial sports pitches ber Awards, and its managing director, Peter and will allow facilities within the five CFAs O’Brien, also received the Outstanding Per- to access information and expert advice. sonal Achievement Award at the ceremony The respective CFA, Replay Maintenance, in November. As well as creating 23 new and the individual facility can together jobs in 2013, the specialist civil engineering plan and implement the very best way firm has raised more than £7,000 for charity. O’Brien team at the awards event to care for and maintain synthetic sports Peter O’Brien said: “[This] is a wonder- surface and surroundings. ful endorsement of how hard everyone at The award comes with a £25,000 cheque, From initial grounds professional O’Brien’s has worked to achieve our goals. which O’Brien is investing in its apprentice- training through to budgets and forecasts, We are dedicated to striving to improve the ship programme to help more young people the partnership has been designed to cater efficiency and environmental impact of con- enter the construction industry and also into for all aspects of managing and maintaining struction projects.” the company’s community fund.. the sports pitch.

72 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 White Line Services International ltd BRITANNIA SPECIALISTS IN TRACK MAINTENANCE CONTACT US FOR FREE QUOTATIONS AND TRACK ADVICE We can offer: NEW FOR 2013 ● Newly designed high pressure running track cleaning machine which picks up and disposes of all dirty water. A final rinse of the track ensures surface is clean, inhibits moss growth and is ready to run on. ● Remarking tracks & courts on all synthetic surfaces ADVANCED COATING ● Surveying & painting tracks & courts SYSTEMS FOR SPORTS AND ● All track repairs using IAAF certified materials RECREATION SURFACES

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 73 The latest news and views from SAPCA

Anytime opens specialist fitness showroom in Scotland

Anytime Leisure has announced that it has now moved to a brand new head office and showroom in Newbridge, Edinburgh. The existing staff team of 31 moved to the new location at the end of September and the showroom is now open to customers and the public, having been opened by special guest Judy Murray on 6 December. Anytime director Jonny Curley said: “The showroom is an excellent step forward for Anytime and will allow us to move more into the home fitness market while supporting our existing commercial fitness clients.” The Perthshire facility has been given a Wimbledon-themed finish The company also made the decision to relocate to a 23,000sq ft warehouse, in order to accommodate its recent growth Doe Sport North serves up Murray’s and to develop the business, which has been rewarded with several large commercial championship court at Cromlix contracts for organisations including; West Dunbartonshire Leisure, City of Glasgow With a backdrop of Perthshire forest, it’s surely sophisticated porous macadam, and it’s finished College and Nuffield Health. the most picturesque tennis court setting in with an acrylic protective and decorative coat- Scotland, but the owner isn’t renowned for tak- ing which helps maintain the consistency of the ing his eye of the ball. court, whatever the conditions. Doe Sport North has just completed the Guests should spot right away the Wimble- installation of a brand new facility at Andy Mur- don-themed finish. While keeping their first ray’s soon to open country house hotel near is serves in play will be down to the users, every- hometown of Dunblane in Perthshire. Needless thing else should be kept courtside by fencing to say, the fetching purple and green finish was from long-time collaborators JB Corrie & Co. specified by the Wimbledon champion. Doe Sport North has completed a number Les MacLean, managing director of Fife-based of private client facilities in the area. Doe Sport North, explained that the Wimble- Les MacLean has been working personally don-themed finish was down to the versatility with Judy Murray on the project, and is keen Surfacing made from old sport shoes of the surface. “The facility we’ve installed here for Doe Sport’s own community involvement is designed specifically for the UK and is in de- ambitions to grow on the back of such high- Recycled play surfacing mand by top tennis clubs.” he said. “It’s a quite profile approval.. range expanded Playtop, the play surfacing company, has added ‘Living exterior’ for Sweden’s new national arena four new colours to its Playtop with Nike Grind range, where at least 70 per cent of Friends Arena, in Solna, Sweden, boasts an the content is recycled material. impressive ‘living exterior’, comprised of The range is created using worn-out dynamically controlled architectural RGB sports shoes, recycled vehicle tyres and other floodlights. The stadium has a capacity for recycled rubber materials, meaning that every 50,000-seated visitors or 65,000 standing. square metre of the improved range contains The arena and exterior are illuminated by rubber from at least 22 shoes, making the Philips lighting solutions, which undertook journey straight from player to playground. the project on the behalf of Lighthouse AB. The expanded range will include four new “The ambition was to give Friends Arena colours: Sand, Brown, Flame and Plum to a living exterior which can be altered to suit complement the existing range of Red, Black, a particular event being hosted,” says Helena Friends Arena in Solna, Stockholm Blue and Green. Åkerberg lighting architect for Lighthouse AB. Each of the colours, with the Playtop black The arena uses a combination of RGB and 16 ArenaVision floodlights with hot re- base layer, will have a recycled content of up floodlights to create a spectacular façade, strike feature, all mounted 42m in the air on to 91 per cent. The cost of this new range the effects and colouring of which can be a custom walkway. Each of the floodlights is is considerably less than conventional play modified to match the atmosphere of ev- individually directed to comply with the FIFA surfacing per square metre which employs an ery occasion. Inside the arena itself, there requirements, where lighting for HD televi- EPDM top layer – able to save facility owners are 316 ArenaVision MVF404 floodlights sion broadcast has to be below 3500 lux. as much as 30 per cent.

74 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 The Sports and Play Construction the industry, in order to provide the from tennis courts and sports pitches Association, SAPCA, is the high quality facilities necessary for to playgrounds and sports halls. recognised trade organisation for the the success of British sport. SAPCA also represents manufacturers sports and play facility construction SAPCA represents a wide range of and suppliers of related products, industry in the UK. SAPCA fosters specialist constructors of natural and and independent consultants that excellence, professionalism and synthetic sports surfaces, including offer professional advice on the continuous improvement throughout both outdoor and indoor facilities, development of projects.

PRINCIPAL CONTRACTORS KEY

Charles Lawrence Tennis Courts A Tennis Courts 4 Rupert Law Close, Quorn, To book your advertisement Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 8PE B in the SAPCA directory call Synthetic Pitches Tel: 0800 294 8066 John on Fax: 01509 558691 C Athletics Tracks email: [email protected] +44 (0)1202 742968 D Multi Sports A D A D I J K P E Natural Sportsturf F Play Surfaces Honours Yard, Specialist Installer of Synthetic Surfacing Lodge Lane, for Sport & Play Throughout the UK Chalfont St Giles, Bucks HP84AJ T. 0116 2813200 To book your advertisement E. [email protected] T: 01494 766673 F: 01494 766674 www.dura-sport.co.uk in the SAPCA directory call tel: +44(0)1636 615866 E: [email protected] John on www.charleslawrencesurfaces.co.uk www.thechilterngroup.co.uk +44 (0)1202 742968 A B C D O Q A D I J K O Q S A B D F

Hunter Construction (Aberdeen) Ltd, Centaur House, Thainstone Business Park, Design, Build & Maintain the Finest Ten- FRQVWUXFWLRQ PDLQWHQDQFH HTXLSPHQW Inverurie AB51 5GT nis Courts & Sports Surfaces Tel: (0116) 246 0500 Fax: (0116) 246 1561 St. Peter’s Works, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham GL51 9AL 01621 85 86 86 Email: [email protected] Tel: 01242 513251 Fax: 01242 226396 Tel: 01467 627290 Fax: 01467 625791 www.etcsports.co.uk www.fossecontracts.co.uk www.grimshawgroup.co.uk E-mail:[email protected]

A B D A D I J K O P S A D E F I J K O Q B D

McArdle Sport-Tec is one of the UK’s Natural & artificial longest standing artificial pitch and track To book your advertisement contractors. In the past our 3G installations sports pitch specialist have included: Manchester United FC, Stoke in the SAPCA directory call City FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, West Tel: +44 (0)1256 880488 Cosgrove Road, Old Stratford, Milton Keynes MK19 6AF Bromwich Albion FC, Swansea City FC & John on Tel: 01908 260217 Fax: 01908 261659 Reading FC. T: 01491 827810 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] McArdle Sport-Tec Ltd Web: www.kestrelcontractors.co.uk 1-2 Thames Park, Lester Way, E: [email protected] +44 (0)1202 742968 www.landunitconstruction.co.uk Wallingford, Oxon OX10 9TA. www.mcardlesport.co.uk

B E E B C D

Unit 32, Clwyd Close, Hawarden Industrial Est, Newbury Berkshire Manor Lane, Hawarden, CH5 3PZ, t: 01635 34521 T: 01244 533184 www.sandcslatter.com [email protected] F: 01244 533184 POLYTAN SPORTS SURFACES LIMITED E: [email protected] Phone: 0845 224 1416 Fax: 0845 224 1617 SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF SURFACES AND Email: [email protected] EQUIPMENT FOR: ● Multi-Sport Facilities www.plattconstruction.co.uk www.polytansports.co.uk ● Cricket Facilities ● Play and Educational Facilities

A D J K P Q B C D O D F A B C D

THE SPORTS AND PLAY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION CAN BE CONTACTED ON: 024 7641 6316 Email: [email protected] www.sapca.org.uk

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 75 ANCILLARY CONTRACTORS, MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS KEY

G Adhesives B&L Fencing Services Ltd Phone: 01527 882101 H Aggregate Producers Fax: 01527 882123 I Equipment Suppliers T: 0161 214 8722 E: [email protected] www.blfencing.co.uk www.athleticsdirect.co.uk Fencing Specialists to the Sports Industry J Fencing Systems K S I J K Floodlighting L Indoor Structures ADVANCED COATING Sports flooring · Sports surfaces BRITANNIA SYSTEMS FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION SURFACES M Paint Manufacturers Tracks for champions Britannia Paints Limited Unit 7 and 8, King Street Trading Estate N Screening/Windbreaks Bridome Ltd, The Courtyard, Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QL Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 9LF www.berleburger.com T: 01606 834015 F: 01606 837006 Tel +44 (0)1932 350365 Fax +44 (0)1932 350375 E: [email protected] Tel: 01422 200 143 e. [email protected] www.bridome.co.uk www.britanniapaints.co.uk Email: [email protected] O Sports Surface Suppliers

L M P O P Surface painting/Line Marking Q Civil Engineers & Sports Lighting Specialists www.cuphosco.com Groundworks

LEADING AIR DOME MANUFACTURERS R Irrigation & Pumping Design . Manufacture . Install . Maintain T: 01883 743988 F: 01883 744076 E: [email protected] Tel: 01920 860600 S Fax: 01920 485915 Maintenance Tel: 0800 9886370 www.collinson.co.uk www.covairdomes.co.uk Email: [email protected]

L L K

Fabrieksstraat 13, Suppliers of Adhesives 8281 BW Genemuiden, for all applications in To book your advertisement The Netherlands. the sports surface industry in the SAPCA directory call Unit 2, Swanston Steadings, 109 Swanston Road, Edinburgh, EH10 7DS T: +31 (0)38 425 00 50 F: +31 (0)38 425 00 51 Tel: 0131 629 0437 E: [email protected] John on Tel: 01889 271751 Email: [email protected] www.edelgrass.com www.envirostik.com +44 (0)1202 742968 www.fieldturf.com

O G O

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O O O I O P

High quality sports posts, nets and tennis court equipment T: 0121 783 0312 T: +44 (0)1276 855 666 F: +44 (0)1276 855 999 F: 0121 786 2472 www.markharrod.comwwww.maw markharrod.com E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.hexasports.co.uk www.luminancepro.co.uk Products for Sport

I I K I

Sports Facility Construction: Exhibitions & Seminars SAPCA regional exhibitions featuring the leading constructors of sports facilities and suppliers of related products and services, together with seminars on key aspects of sports facility design and construction.

FOR FUTURE EXHIBITIONS AND SEMINARS Tel: 024 7641 6316 or Email: [email protected] www.sapca.org.uk

76 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 ANCILLARY CONTRACTORS, MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS

Murfitts Industries Ltd Station Road, Lakenheath, Suffolk IP27 9AD Temporary Tel: 01842 860220 buildings Fax: 01842 863300 www.mri-polytech.com Email: [email protected] www.neptunus.co.uk

O O L O

SPORTS PITCH www.playrite.co.uk To book your CONCEPT TO CONSTRUCTION Complete lighting solutions for all sports venues advertisement Tel: 01926 423918 www.philips.com/lighting www.obriencontractors.co.uk t: +44 (0)7920 711442 e: [email protected] in the SAPCA Q O K directory call

John on 9,73(@4HPU[LUHUJL3[K >LZSL`/V\ZL>OP[[SL*SVZL 5L^HYR5.+@ +44 (0)1202  E. [email protected] PUMV'YLWSH`THPU[LUHUJLJV\R we will never stop innovating T. 01773 838000 ;HRPUN*HYLVM)YP[HPU»Z 742968 www.re-bounce.com :WVY[Z:\YMHJLZ www.rubb.co.uk

O I P S L

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S O L I P S

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

To book your advertisement in the SAPCA directory call John on t: 01403 259400 e: [email protected] +44 (0)1202 742968 www.sportsconsultancy.net

To subscribe to Sports Management, log on to www.leisuresubs.com email [email protected] tel +44 1462 471913 fax +441462 433909. Annual subscription rates are UK £27, Europe £37 rest of world £58, Looking for a supplier? students UK £13 Sports Management is published each quarter by The Leisure Media Company Limited, Portmill House, Portmill Lane, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DJ, UK and is distributed in the USA by SPP, 75 Aberdeen Road, Interested in becoming Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid @ Manchester, PA. POSTMASTER. Send US address changes to Sports Management, c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. a SAPCA member? The views expressed in print are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher The Leisure Media Company Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded or Tel: otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright holder. Printed by Manson Group Printers. 024 7641 6316 © Cybertrek Ltd 2013 ISSN 1479/9146 www.sapca.org.uk

Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 77 Product round-up - lighting sport-kit.net the search engine for leisure buyers

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Fern Howard Lighting has unveiled its engine wwwspRrtNitnet new EdgeLED technology for indoor sports and gym venue lighting. The lights, including the Sabre model, can RacTuet spRrts club tR replace traditional fluorescent fittings, reGuce its lighting bill and are designed to give a better ap- pearance and user experience. Using LEDtec (UK) Ltd is helping sports op- solid state technology, the life expec- erator David Lloyd Leisure reduce its tancy of the lamp is between 10 and CO2 output by 20 per cent in 2014 15 years without maintenance. with new lighting. It has installed a new ecological lighting scheme, re- sport-kit.net KEYWORDS placing the group’s existing spotlights, fern howard in 90 sports clubs in the UK and Europe. The LEDs emit five per cent heat energy and LEDtec provided around 18,000 replacement lamps. The lighting solution is intended to help the operator save more than £200,000 annually in energy bills sport-kit.net KEYWORD and reduce maintenance costs. LEDtec

Ritelite launches new À RRGlights IRr RutGRRrs

UltraVista lights up Ritelite Systems, manufacturer clubs with 3D signage of portable lighting products, has launched its new mobile sports light- UltraVista Systems has launched its ing system on wheels for outdoor next generation of ultra violet light- training during winter months. Already ing-based signage. The Illuminated being used by football clubs, includ- Suspended Image System (ISIS) 3D ing Sheffield United, the unit is a is designed to be a high impact, low high-power mobile outdoor floodlight- voltage sign for showcasing names or ing system, specifically designed for brands at leisure and sports facilities. sports including football, rugby and Lightweight, slim and designed to last tennis. Two Quad pod models are for seven years with an average usage available at 5m high and 6.5m, with of 24 hours a day, it is an easily porta- a choice of metal halide or LED fit- ble product with a transparent, 3D look. tings. The units can be installed by one person and can be powered by sport-kit.net KEYWORD sport-kit.net KEYWORDS mains electricity or generator. LED ultravista ritelite versions come with a battery option.

78 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2012 © cybertrek 2012 log on to www.sport-kit.net and type the company name under ‘keyword search’

Philips’ architectural lighting for Ghelamco

The new Ghelamco Arena in Gent, Belgium, home to football team KAA Gen, has opened in a blaze of glory, with Philips Lighting. The new sta- dium has a media facade on all four sides and an exterior architectural lighting scheme. The dynamic and flexible media facade is built from Canada celebrates sport around 9km of Philips CK iColor Flex LMX – flexible strands of intense co- Eos Lightmedia of Vancouver, Canada lour changing LED pixels, placed in completed the lighting design for sport-kit.net KEYWORDS vertical lines all around the building. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, which philips lighting The facade covers 10,000 sq m. opened at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary earlier this year. The new 40,000 sq ft space for sports fans O’Brien sports pitch and lighting designed with care celebrates the country’s sports history with 11 exhibit galleries and more Sports contractor O’Brien com- than 50 interactive visitor experiences. pleted a sympathetically-designed Audio Visual display was designed and lighting and pitch installation St installed by Electrosonic. Finbarr’s Sports Club in Coventry in the West Midlands, UK. As the prin- sport-kit.net KEYWORDS cipal contractor, O’Brien designed eos lightmedia and constructed the 3G sports pitch, which involved lighting as well as earthworks drainage, sub base, fenc- ing and surfacing for the sports club. The the sports pitch is situated in a residential area, so floodlighting was sympathetically designed to reduce sport-kit.net KEYWORDS the impact on local residents. o’brien

.ing¿sher lights up 6hef¿eld +allam sports

Eco infra-red light used at new football academy Temporary structures specialist AV Danzer included eco-friendly lighting as part of its provision for the building of the new Manchester City Football Academy at the Etihad Stadium, Kingfisher Lighting has completed a installed 15m and 20m base-hinged UK. As part of its installation, which new installation at Sheffield Hallam columns to enable the sports pitches includes temporary accommodation for University Sports Park. The 22-acre to be evenly lit. The base hinge design contractors, a visitor centre and viewing sports park has benefitted from a £6 allows the head frame to be lowered facility, AV Danzer provided eco-friendly million investment in its sports fa- to the ground so the luminaires can details including passive infra-red cilities, which included upgrading its be safely maintained. lighting and rainwater harvesting. exterior lighting. Kingfisher’s design lights up to a 200 lux average with sport-kit.net KEYWORD sport-kit.net KEYWORDS a 60 per cent uniformity. Kingfisher kingfisher av danzer

Issue 4 2012 © cybertrek 2012 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 79 SPORTS MANAGEMENT DIRECTORY

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80 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 lockers/changing rooms sports lighting

Sports Lighting Specialists RIDGEWAY FURNITURE www.cuphosco.com CHANGING SOLUTIONS TO SUIT EVERY BUDGET Tel: 01623 511111 Fax: 01623 552133 Email: [email protected] Design . Manufacture . Install . Maintain Picture courtesy of Cheshire County Sports Club Contact us now for your Free Lighting Design

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Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 81 powered by

leisurediary.com DIARY DATES Worldwide events listings for leisure professionals

2-4 FEB 2014 6-11 APRIL 2014 Spatex 2014 SportAccord Ricoh Arena Coventry, UK Belek/Antalya, Turkey SPATEX is a dedicated pool and spa trade SportAccord Convention is a six-day an- event. Now in its 18th year, the show nual gathering of more than 2,500 lead- ADVERTISERS INDEX has broad appeal across all sectors of the ing representatives from international sport and active leisure industries. sport. It encompasses the Congress and AFLS+P 84 Tel: +44 (0) 1264 358558 General Assemblies of three associations www.spatex.co.uk whose members consist of 109 Interna- Britannia Paints 73 tional Sports Federations (IFs) and Associ- 20-22 FEB 2014 ate Members. SportAccord Convention Charles Lawrence 73 UK Pool and Spa Expo provides the global sports community Charterhouse 69 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK with an opportunity to gather in an UK Pool & Spa Expo is designed exclusive networking environment, to Collinson 41 to target the whole of the build relationships, expand horizons and UK wet leisure industry and broaden sport’s collective endeavours. Craftsman Lockers 61 associated sectors, offering both Tel: +41 (0) 21 601 75 87 Duralock 69 UK and international companies a www.sportaccordconvention.com professional platform to meet and Retail Business Technology Expo 19 learn about the latest new products. 28 MAY – 1 JUNE 2014 Tel: +44 (0) 1483 420 229 CIFTIS-Sports G8 Design 47 www.ukpoolspa-expo.co.uk China National Convention Center, Geneva 2014 83 Beijing, China 5-8 MAR 2014 CIFTIS-Sports focuses on creating op- Gerfl or 23 Taipei International Sporting Goods portunities for the sports service industry Show (TaiSPO) by building a communication network Hargreaves 65 TWTC Exhibition Hall 1 & 3, Taipei, China platform for government departments in Harrod UK 55 TAISPO is one of Asia’s most important charge of sports and leisure. It is hosted trade events for bringing together the by China’s Ministry of Commerce JC Leisure 47 entire industry to source the best and Tel: +86 10 8507 2205 latest sporting goods. More than 350 ex- www.intsst.org/htlhe_com Les Mills 59 hibitors will fi ll the 1,700 booths with the Mark Harrod 11 latest in fi tness equipment, water sports 26 JUN 2014 equipment, racket sports and more. Sports and Leisure Facilities Forum Matrix 13 Tel: +886 2 2725 5200 Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, www.taispo.com.tw Madejski Stadium, Reading, Berkshire, UK O’Brien Contractors 41 The Sports & Leisure Facilities Forum is Ojmar 17 11-12 MAR 2014 specifi cally designed for development Retail Business Technology Expo and procurement managers from Polytan 47 Earls Court, London, UK stadia, leisure facilities, arenas and The event gathers more than 9,000 local authorities all over the UK. At the Replay 69 visitors and 300 exhibitors, covering event they will fi nd inspirational ideas Rubb 2 every category across the retail and and gain up to date knowledge from sports marketing sectors. There is also an leading solution and service providers. Sports & Leisure Forum 51 extensive free education programme. Tel: +44 1992 374 100 Tel: +44 (0)20 8874 2728 www.forumevents.co.uk Thornton Sports 41 www.rbtexpo.com Tiger Turf 27 2-5 JUL 2014 3-6 APR 2014 19th Annual Congress of the Turf & Grass Expo 65 FIBO 2014 European College of Sport Science Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany Amsterdam, Netherlands UK Pool & Spa Expo 15 FIBO is the biggest trade show for Annual congresses have been organised White Line Services 73 fi tness, wellness and health. Every year since the inauguration of the ECSS in around 600 exhibitors from 38 coun- 1995. Today, the ECSS congresses rank Zaun 55 tries present their products and services among the leading sport scientifi c con- in 13 halls to 58,000 visitors from more gresses worldwide. The congress hosts a than 100 countries. range of invited lecturers. sport-kit.net Tel: +49 211 90191 300 Tel: +31 (0)20 444 8444 www.fi bo.de www.ecss-congress.eu/2014 For more information on our advertisers’ products log on to www.sport-kit.net

82 Read Sports Management online sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013 18 SPORTS CONFERENCES 1 COMBINED EXHIBITION ALL AT 1 VENUE ALL AT 1 TIME

THE WORLD’S LARGEST SPORTS CONFERENCES, EXHIBITION AND NETWORKING EVENT IN 2014

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