MSPs to see ‘unrivalled’ sports facilities in Aberdeen

22.09.2012

Community sport facilities that have been described as ‘unrivalled’ will be showcased to MSPs from the Health and Sport Committee, as part of their inquiry into grassroots sport.

MSPs will visit Aberdeen Sports Village, a leading sport and exercise facility and host to Scotland’s first disability sports hub on Monday (24 September).

Deputy Convener of the Health and Sport Committee Bob Doris MSP, said:

“The major sporting events of the summer have inspired communities the length and breadth of the country. Now that momentum is building for Glasgow in 2014, the Committee is looking to determine if we have the people, the facilities and the investment to support involvement in sport at the grassroots.
 
“Our Committee will hear from a number of local sport groups that not only get a health benefit from involvement in sport, but also a social benefit, not only for the individual but the community as a whole.” 

The Committee will hear from a number of Aberdeen based sports clubs including Street Sport, Scottish Disability Sport and Aberdeen Amateur Athletics Club.

The Committee has already heard evidence from 20 organisations and had over 50 written responses from organisations up and down the country.

Member of the Committee and member for North East Scotland, Nanette Milne MSP said:

“The facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village are outstanding. As the inquiry is looking at the quality of facilities across the country, this visit will give us an understanding of what is possible.

“The inquiry will also look at the accessibility of facilities and how community groups are engaging with community sport hubs, a key part of the legacy of Glasgow 2014.”  

Background

The Health and Sport Committee launched an inquiry on the topic of support for community sport on 2 July 2012.

The inquiry will address the following themes—

• The contribution of people – focusing on the role of volunteers – and looking at how to ensure they have the opportunities and support necessary to best contribute to sport at a local level;
• The benefit of local sports clubs both to (i) the preventative health agenda and (ii) their communities;
• The importance of places for sport, in terms of availability, accessibility,  affordability, and the quality of facilities.