Sport reforms mooted

Press, 13 November 1985, Page 3

Sport reforms mooted

The abolition of the Ministry of Recreation and Sport, additional funding for sport of 510-8 M annually, and dramatic changes to physical education in schools are among the most radical recommendations in the report of the Sports Inquiry Committee released yesterday. The long awaited report, commissioned by the Minister of Recreation and Sport, Mr Moore, is especially harsh in its comments on physical education in schools, and of the usefulness of the Ministry of Recreation and Sport. As promised by Mr Moore, there are a number of radical proposals to improve sport and recreation in New Zealand. Among them are the replacement of the Ministry with a new body called Sportscorp, and the introduction of Lotto to fund increased spending on recreation and sport.

The report covers every aspect of sport, from funding and opportunities for international athletes, to a

better deal for women in sport, the development of ethnic sports, and proposals for a reduction of violence in sport. Sir Ronald Scott chaired the inquiiy committee, which compiled the comprehensive report in seven months. Other members of the committee were John Adshead, Ann Ballin, Teremoana Hodges, Fanaura Kingstone, Joe McManemin, John Stewart, Nick Tangaroa, Glenn Turner and John Walker.

The committee paid special attention to sport in the education system. There was concern about the “steady erosion of both the status and the quality of physical education taught in New Zealand schools,” the report said. “We see sport as seriously disadvantaged at present within the physical education curriculum.”

The committee recommended that sport should be an integral part of the physical education syllabus at primary and intermedi-

ate schools. At secondary school, physical education and sport should be recognised as two distinct types of education. Sir Ronald and his committee have placed the emphasis on improving expertise in sport rather than investing heavily in facilities and equipment, as the Australians have done with their Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Sportscorp would be a Government corporation with sole responsibility for the State contribution to sport, and accountable to the Minister of Sport.

(As a first step towards reform an Assembly of Sport will be established today. It will represent all organisations with a direct interest in sport, and with the aim of being accredited by Sportscorp as the offical voice of sport.) The introduction of Lotto to fund sport, recreation, arts and community projects has been recommended in the report. It also suggests that

Sportscorp become an official instrument of the New Zealand Lottery Board. Other principal recommendations were:

® That the development of sports skills through coaching be a primary objective of sports development policy; and that the training of coaches be a primary function of Sportscorp. ® That a national coaching directors scheme, national coaches development scheme and national coaching accrediting be established and funded by Sportscorp. © That a women’s sport promotion unit be established within Sportscorp. ® That Government assistance to sports associations be fairly distributed between male and female sports. ® That Sportscorp, in association with its standing committee on international priorities, direct sufficient funding to maintain New Zealand as a significant force in international snort.