Sport, cultural ambassador changes mooted

Press, 14 May 1987, Page 8

Sport, cultural ambassador changes mooted

PA Wellington The sport and cultural ambassador programme needs severe modification to streamline its management and re-establish its prestige, according to the Hillary Commission for Recreation and Sport.

It has recommended a small number of special ambassadors be paid a basic retainer of $lO,OOO a year for use in promotional work.

It also suggests ambassadors have an established international profile, so that they can be used overseas by marketers, and have personality and ability as a “front person.” "Selection criteria need to be tightened to regain the prestige and status the

title ‘sport and cultural ambassador* had in its early stages.” The scheme was launched by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Moore, two years ago. He had asked for a report from the commission on the scheme’s future. The review was conducted by a committee made up of representatives of the Hillary Commission, the Sports Foundation, the Export Institute, and Independent Newspapers, Ltd, and a recent recipient, the athlete, Allison Roe. The report said a critical factor was the amount of "lead time” available for the planning and matching of promotions with ambassadors. “Communication problems between the ambas-

sadors and potential users is a major problem,” the committee said. It concluded that equal numbers of sport and cultural ambassadors be retained with a strictly limited number of current appointments — a maximum of four for special ambassadors and 12 for honorary ambassadors. The commission considered it was the appropriate body to administer the programme with co-ordi-nation with the Market Development Board.

Mr Moore said the recommendations were worth while and he suggested the commission implement them. “Obviously there is a problem with cost, but it is up to the Hillary Commission to organise its priorities,” he said.