SPORT’S health and social value has previously been evidenced by a government commissioned report which estimated around £18.7m health savings in 2019 from sport/ physical activity in public facilities. If private facilities were also taken into consideration, this figure would clearly increase.
Apart from the physical health benefits, there are incalculable advantages to mental wellbeing and personal development.
The JSC recommends that the new government create a clear Policy for Sport, recognising sport as integral to health, education, community and the economy. There should continue to be a dedicated, knowledgeable Sports Minister. The government should consult directly and routinely with clubs and associations, treating them as experts and listening to the needs of each individual sport as well as the JSC and their own arm’s-length organisations, Jersey Sport. There is a strong, repeated demand from our member sports bodies for more, better and affordable facilities – indoor and outdoor – and for government to open, maintain and subsidise such sites.
Access to facilities is constrained by high hire costs which prevent access for some sports. The JSC believes that charges should cover basic upkeep but not be used as a profit centre to keep sport affordable and inclusive.
In the long term, there should be a substantial facilities investment programme – £80 to £100m over several years – but affordable when considering the “health dividend” already identified by the government. This would include further Oakfield type multisport halls – each separately dedicated to four or five different sports, with equipment and flooring appropriate to that sport – a new Les Quennevais centre and pool, and a separate ten lane pool.
Outdoors, there is a need for an upgraded athletics centre, 3G football and rugby pitches, cycle and pump tracks and a covered space for pétanque.
The government fails so often to maintain new builds and there needs to be a proper, ongoing maintenance budget and to support that we propose a public online maintenance register so issues can be reported, tracked and resolved transparently.
Sport should be seen as a key component of Jersey’s tourism offer. The JSC proposes that a Sports Tourism Strategy be established; there should be a dedicated Assistant Minister for Tourism and a small joint Visit Jersey/Jersey Sport team to market and “concierge” events. Clubs emphasise the economic value of hosting visiting teams and major events and request marketing, logistical and modest financial support, such as venue discounts and hotel packages, to grow these.
Sport is a year-round activity and typically there are seven or eight different sporting events each year which attract athletes and spectators from the UK or continent to participate – as well as the regular league rugby, netball and football programmes and inter-insulars.
Support should be given to promote such events, but alongside this, there should be the recognition and marketing that Jersey is an island of activity and the casual tourist is welcome at a wide range of venues to play so many sports.