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Scottish Governing Body for Sport (SGBS) calls on all parties contesting the Scottish election to commit to double annual spending on sport to £100m
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SGBS also calls for a dedicated Sports Minister within the health portfolio rather than a role added to other responsibilities
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SGBS wants the next Government to work with them to deliver a coherent, long term and cost-effective plan for a pipeline of major sporting events in Scotland
Governing bodies for sport in Scotland (SGBS) want all parties contesting the Holyrood election to fulfil the current Government’s commitment to increase spending on sport in Scotland from £50m to £100m a year.
The SGBS say that while the recent announcement of a £20m uplift in the coming year is welcome, sports organisations need greater confidence about the timing of the delivery of the rest of the increase to enable them to cope with continuing issues around rising costs, increased demand and pressures on club and community sport.
Governing Bodies also say that given sport’s increasing importance to health outcomes, community cohesion and showcasing Scotland, it is time to give sport a full-time, dedicated minister rather than it being buried within an existing portfolio.
In addition, they want the Government to ensure a lasting legacy from hosting events such as Glasgow 2026 and the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 by bringing more World and
European events to Scotland.
The SGBS manifesto is being sent to all party leaders ahead of May’s elections. In this year’s Budget, the Government announced a £20m increase in annually recurring sports funding with a focus on supporting sport’s governing bodies and their day-to-day operational needs. In 2021, the Scottish Government pledged to double annual funding to £100m per year by 2026 but had yet to increase sport’s annual budget during the current Parliament before January’s announcement.
The remainder of the uplift has been signalled for later years in the next Parliament. SGBs want that commitment nailed down no matter which party or parties make up the next Scottish
Government.
This year’s Budget uplift came in the wake of the powerful Running on Empty campaign which highlighted how sports in Scotland were struggling to operate amid increasing financial pressures and standstill funding decisions over the last five years.