Milton Keynes is a sporty city on every level, which is why an organisation like Sport MK is so important.
In recent years we have seen our sporting credentials recognised on the international map. First, the inspirational Pete Winkelman, MK Dons chairman, secured World Cup host city status for Milton Keynes in 2009. Then in 2010 city-based Red Bull Racing went and ‘did the double’ at the Formula 1 Championships by winning the constructors’ and drivers’ competitions. Meanwhile, England’s badminton team, who are based at MK’s National Badminton Centre, continued to do us proud in the Commonwealth Games.
Just as England’s MK-based sports men and women thrive on the international stage, our local teams excel on home turf, whether the MK Dons on the pitch, the MK Lions on the court or the MK Lightning on the ice.
Milton Keynes’ status as a sporty city is likely to grow. With the forthcoming Olympic Games next year we have several venues that are likely to provide bases for sports teams from around the world. And the 2012 tournament will have a further link to Milton Keynes in that I will shortly be presenting a Bill to Parliament which will allow the Royal Mint to produce Olympic coins to mark the occasion.
Our national, international and regional sporting prowess has a more important role: inspiring the sporting element in all of us, young and old. Countless clubs meet at leisure centres across the city through the week; many more fill our playing fields on Saturdays and Sundays. We are even home to some newer sports, with a massive dragon boat racing. I have even had a go at the emerging sport Korfball. Whether we enjoy regular cycling on the abundant Redways or popping to energie Fitness for a weekend workout, we are all MK sportsmen and women and that is why Sport MK is an organisation I support.
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Sport Milton Keynes – A Brief History
The structure of independent, but accountable, Sports Councils (Home Countries) dates back to 1972. These were set up as independent (autonomous) bodies with overall responsibility for British sport, providing grants to governing bodies of sport, assessing the need and demand for facilities and advising local authorities on the provision of facilities. They were set up in recognition of the fact that Government could not, and should not, take upon itself to run and organise sport or sporting activities. The Sports Councils were therefore acknowledged as the Government’s principal advisors on sporting matters and were used to channel the assistance (resources) to sport.
A crucial contribution to sport was also made at the local level by Local Authorities which have been the force behind the growth of indoor sports and leisure centres which now play such an important part in our communities. They have a large role in providing sporting opportunities, particular as providers of facilities and , increasingly, as enablers working in partnership with the private and volunteer sectors. This partnership became even more significant with the advent of the funding available through the National Lottery. The Voluntary Sector has always been identified as crucial, through the activities of the independent governing bodies of sport and through individual sports clubs.
Throughout the 1970’s local Sports Councils started to spring up as voluntary organisations, creating the links between local authorities and sports clubs. In 1977 Milton Keynes District Sports Council was established. Of course since 1972 there have been a number of changes, which have influenced the way that sport has been administered throughout Great Britain. None of these though had a greater impact then that which created the English Sports Council. Before then, responsibility for the development of sport in England lay with the GB Sports Council, which also had a remit for the whole of the UK on the co-ordination of issues such as the operation of doping control services and international affairs. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already had their own Sports Councils.
In 1995, extensive consultation and debate dating back to 1987 culminated in the Government policy paper Sport: Raising the Game. From this emerged a revised system, the GB Sports Council (now known as Sport England) assumed responsibility for the development of sport in England. Another new organisation- the UK Sports Council (now known as UK Sport) – took responsibility for issues that needed to be dealt with at UK level.
Sport Milton Keynes
Originally established as Milton Keynes and District Sports Council in 1977, on the 1st January 2000 (the advent of the new millennium) this organisation took the name of Sports Milton Keynes.
The launch took place at the Posthouse Hotel at a ceremony where the Mayor of Milton Keynes and Mark Hesk, Leisure Partnership Officer of Milton Keynes Council were the main speakers. There were over 100 guests who also enjoyed one the twice annual presentations of certificates to Sports Achievers of the Month.Sport Milton Keynes continues to be the independent Voice of Sport in Milton Keynes, encouraging Clubs to submit nominees to our Achiever Schemes, both Monthly and Annually, Also Grants continue to be given to affiliated Clubs who meet he necessary criteria.
INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM THE
SPORTS MILTON KEYNES
WELCOME PACK FROM 2001
