The aim of this CCPR book is to provide sports administrators with information on the organisation of sport, physical recreation and exercise in the UK. It also provides a source of reference for students, the youth services, libraries and media, etc..

It is never easy to decide target audiences, although Patrick Smith MBE (Executive Officer, National Council for School Sport) before addressing the All Party Parliamentary Sports group, asked Dennis Howell (later Lord) for advice on how to approach his speech. The answer was “Assume they know nothing” – it worked.

This publication takes a similar line so as to help those who may have little background in the organisation of sport and recreation in the UK.

We can refer to the European Sports Charter for a definition of sport as being:

“Any form of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aims at improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competitions at all levels”.

There are not only benefits for individuals from sport - become healthier, social and leadership skills, team work, lifetime interests, helping to limit vandalism and petty crime, etc - but there are also economic advantages. At European level - with comparable benefits in the UK - it is estimated to account for 2.5% of world trade and 1% of the EU’s Gross National Product - a market that has considerable potential for greater growth and further job creation. In 1998 the UK spending on sports goods and services was calculated to be more than £11 billion, sustaining 350,000 jobs.

Sporting activity affects society in many ways - the press, TV, infrastructure like roads and buildings, government revenue through taxation, lotteries and gambling, industries, manufacturing sporting goods, the retail sector and education. The organisation of sport in the UK is becoming increasingly affected by the European Union (e.g. the Bosman Ruling).

Although this book attempts to outline the organisation of sport and recreation in the UK, the problem is that there is no comprehensive UK strategy for sport. A largely free hand is given to each of the devolved Home Countries, and so devolution has a substantial affect on the organisation of sport in the UK.

There is an emphasis here on the major role played by the independent voluntary national governing and representative bodies of sport (and their 150,000 clubs) - and their co-ordinating bodies (CCPR, BOA and the Home Country Sports Associations, joining together to form the British Confederation of Sport) - in providing most opportunities for taking part in organised sport. Recognition is also given to informal activities, physical recreation, physical education, the affects of exercise on health and to the role of local authorities.

This contribution by sports bodies in the UK to organised sport is only possible because of large numbers (over 1H million) of volunteers who give so much time to the administration of sport in the UK, a system which depends on the British tradition for sport whereby the committee work and decision-making is largely in the hands of unpaid volunteers.

Where there are statistics, there is no attempt to provide complete information which has already been produced by, and available from, Sport England (and in their previous role as the GB Sports Council) in association with the General Household Survey, UK Sport and the Home Country Sports Councils and also by the Central Council of Physical Recreation and others.

Information is included of the most relevant national co-ordinating and other appropriate agencies with their addresses and, where known, websites.

Nationally there is usually a reference to UK sports organisations as being British or GB, but as these titles do not include Northern Ireland, this book refers to the United Kingdom (UK) unless giving the name of an organisation which has chosen to be named British or GB.

Chart III sets out to explain the local (which provide over 95% of opportunities for sport and physical recreation in the UK), county, regional and/or area organisations of sport - clubs, schools, local authorities, Regional Culture Consortia, Sports Boards, Regional Officers of Sport England, Regional Sports Federations and  District/Local Sports Councils, etc.

It is emphasised, however, that the organisation of sport in the UK should be a continuous and seamless progression from grass-roots to national, international and, usually, to European and world level. It is necessary therefore for organised sport in the UK to have effective lines of communication from top to bottom for both the co-ordinating agencies and for the individual national governing and representative bodies.

Acknowledgement

Thanks are extended to the individuals, voluntary and statutory organisations - especially the Sports Councils - who provided information.

Corrections and suggestions for improvements, additions and corrections will be welcomed by the CCPR.