Over 100 delegates attended this week’s UK Sport’s Major Events Conference where the recurring theme of 'legacy’ was prominent among all the key note speakers. In particular, the role that staging events has to play in increasing participation was spelt out by representatives from cycling, rowing and wheelchair basketball.
In recent years, British Cycling has aggressively pursued some of the sport’s showpiece events and can now boast a regular Track Cycling World Cup in the international calendar, along with a Women’s World Cup Road Race in 2005 and the 2007 World Mountain Bike Championships.
The benefits to top level competitors were highlighted by the performances of British riders at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Addressing the Conference, David Brailsford, Performance Director of British Cycling, explained the next stage is to use these events to increase participation among the general public.
"The events provide us with a wonderful opportunity to promote cycling to a wider audience. Cycling is a sport in which everyone can get involved and the crowds we get in the UK are testimony to its popularity."
David Tanner OBE, International Manager of the Amateur Rowing Association, echoed these views. Eton will host both a World Cup regatta in 2005 and the World Championships in 2006 and Tanner is in no doubt of the impact these events could have. "As well as providing us with a state-of-the-art competition venue, the exposure we hope to get from these events will showcase the sport of rowing and hopefully increase participation among the younger generations."
The impact on young people is particularly key to the organisers of the World Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships which take place in Birmingham in 2005. Richard Callicott, Chairman of the organisation committee, said: "If the event inspires other young wheelchair users to take up the sport it will be a success."
The sixth UK Sport Major Events Conference took place this week at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London.