Niall O'Keeffe’s Post

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games ‘one year on’ evaluation report shows the positive impact the Games has had on widening access to sport and physical activity; one of Sport England's key aims. The report shows the Games contributed £1.2 billion to the UK economy, with £79.5 million of social value creation, including community benefits and increases in wellbeing and earnings of volunteers and those trained as part the Games. Two of the facilities Sport England invested in for the Games were Cannock Chase Forest and the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. The DCMS report highlights that, one month after Sandwell opened, it had acquired 4,400 members and welcomed over 60,000 visitors, with 70% of these participants coming from the top 30% most deprived areas. Great to also see that through a 10-year partnership with another one of our clients, West Midlands Combined Authority, Sport England will continue to create inclusive opportunities for people to play sport and get active. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e4DD7Td2

By The Numbers: The rise of youth sports comes with a need to house a large number of events 🏀 Trae Young & his The Trae Young Family Foundation recently opened the Young Family Athletic Center in Norman, OK and are an example of a group that has contributed to the $3.1 Billion spend on sports facilities. (H/T: Sports Business Journal) Sports facilities provide a vast number of opportunities directly to their surrounding communities, but they additionally allow for the hosting of local tournaments that drive sports tourism dollars up, creating a more vibrant community and injecting spend into local businesses. While investments in sports facilities continues to rise and youth sports becomes increasingly privatized, it is important that a focus on accessibility and affordability is maintained. #youthsports #aau #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz

Grassroots sport clubs remain highly valued and important to local communities across the UK. A survey by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, in partnership with physical activity consumer insight specialist, Active Insight, has revealed that more than two-thirds of individuals (68%) believe community sports clubs and groups play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community in their area. Other key findings include: 🏏 63% are concerned that their communities would be diminished if local sports clubs and groups were to disappear. ⚽ 64% believe in the value of a diverse offer of activities for the local community. 🎾 46% acknowledged the importance of local sports clubs and groups in helping them and their families to be physically active. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCn2sNdf #sport #communitysport #grassrootsport Julie Allen, Lisa Wainwright MBE (She/Her)

Youth sports organisations benefit the community and in turn they depend on local support. With the growing commercialisation of youth sports, we risk losing the connection and community ethos that is the source of much of the value of the youth sports experience. Making the case for bringing community back into youth sports, with practical strategies to provide the qualified coaching that leads many to seek out commercial offerings in order to make this a reality: https://lnkd.in/epFQ8wqK

At the Heart of Our Mission—5 Key Insights on Community and Grassroots Sports At Affleck & Co, we believe that community and grassroots sports are more than just recreational activities—they’re catalysts for social change, inclusion, and sustainability. Our work focuses on empowering communities through place-based strategies that reflect their unique history, qualities, and goals. With that in mind, here are 5 key insights you need to know about community and grassroots sport: 📊 The annual social value of community sport and physical activity is £107.2bn. 💡 Sport participation prevents serious physical and mental health conditions, valued at approximately £9.5bn. 💷 For every £1 invested in sport for development, £6 is returned in social value—compared to £4 for traditional sports sponsorship. ⚽ Grassroots football contributes £10.769bn to the UK economy, saving the NHS over £43m annually through reduced GP visits. 📈 Grassroots football clubs have reported a 69% increase in participation levels. These figures demonstrate the transformative power of grassroots sport, which is at the heart of what we do. Whether it’s creating inclusive opportunities or cross-sectors collaborations, especially between brands and communities, we are committed to using sport as a force for good. We believe the key to lasting change lies in connection—bringing together diverse voices, perspectives, and resources to amplify impact🤝 #GrassrootsSports #SocialImpact #PurposeDriven #CommunityDevelopment #WomenInSport #Sport #Strategy

Over €2 million allocated under new Participation Nation Outdoor Fund to 30 local sports partnerships. The Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, has today (Wednesday, 23 October) confirmed allocations under the new Participation Nation Outdoor Fund. A total of €2.26 million has been allocated to 30 local sports partnerships across the country to support the purchase and installation of permanent sport infrastructure that can be placed on public land for community use. In line with the Programme for Government target of reaching 60% overall participation in sport by 2027, the fund is designed to spur physical activity in local community settings by supporting Local Sports Partnerships with the development of barrier-free sport projects on publicly-accessible land. Allocations are funded by the Department and administered by Sport Ireland. Examples of the type of projects supported under the Fund include 3x3 basketball courts, outdoor soccer tables, table tennis, and outdoor gym equipment. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gnAQkfkP To be informed of new grants and funding opportunities for your sports club, community group or not for profit organisation subscribe to our Grants and Funding Newsletter, visit https://lnkd.in/eR42FPFZ #grantsandfunding #grantsandfundingireland #grantsireland #fundingireland #grantapplications #communitygroups #sportsfunding #outdoorsports #sportsclubs

Gatehouse Bank launches community sports fund to support local teams The initiative entails a one-year partnership with five sports teams who will be supplied with new sports kits.

Cost-benefit analysis is a crucial tool when examining the economic feasibility of large sporting events like the Olympic Games or the Commonwealth Games. Here are some key points to consider for such an analysis: 1. Costs: - Infrastructure: Construction and renovation of stadiums, sports facilities, transportation systems, and accommodation. - Operations: Security, transportation, volunteer training, marketing, and administration costs. - Venue management: Maintenance, utilities, and event staff. - Contingency budget: Planned for any unforeseen expenses. 2. Benefits: - Economic impact: Increased tourism, job creation, and revenue for local businesses. - Promotion of the host city: International exposure and branding opportunities. - Legacy: Improved infrastructure, facilities, and amenities benefiting local residents after the event. - Social impact: Encouraging active lifestyles, fostering community spirit, and inspiring young athletes. 3. Perform a thorough analysis: - Quantify both the costs and benefits in monetary terms to determine the potential return on investment. - Consider intangible benefits like enhanced city image and national pride. - Evaluate the risks associated with hosting the event, such as potential cost overruns or lower-than-expected attendance. 4. Stakeholder engagement: - Involve relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, sports organizations, sponsors, and local communities, in the planning process. - Seek feedback and input from stakeholders to ensure that their interests are considered and addressed. 5. Sustainability and legacy: - Implement sustainability measures to minimize environmental impact and ensure long-term benefits for the host city. - Develop a legacy plan to maximize post-event utilization of infrastructure and facilities. Ultimately, a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis will help decision-makers weigh the financial, social, and strategic implications of hosting a large sporting event like the Olympic Games or the Commonwealth Games. It is essential to consider both short-term gains and long-term legacies to make an informed decision about pursuing such events.

Today's article in The Guardian got me thinking about its applicability to #padel in most of the new padel markets like the UK, US, Middle East and Asia. I would argue most of those countries do not have a broad, healthy, structured #youth #participation and #development strategy or even ecosystem, let alone an industrialised and heavily commercialised model like #USsoccer seems to have. For sure there are stand alone clubs and communities setting aside bandwidth and court occupancy on identifying and nurturing #participation and #talent. But a) the temptation to blame struggles on existing top coaches and players is too easy and ignores long term systemic causes; b) padel in the new markets is heavily driven by for-profit businesses and investments. The risk that youth aspects of the game are ignored, neglected or overly-commercialised to the detriment of access and broad social spectrum availability is super real. "I quickly realized that you’re not always getting the best players from the community; it’s just the ones that can afford to play.” I hope padel doesn't fall into this trap. #paytoplay #pay-to-play https://lnkd.in/gPX_SYc4

Join the Conversation: LinkedIn's New 'Sport & Property Partnership Forum' The convergence of sports, particularly football in the UK, with mixed-use real estate is a rapidly growing and thrilling phenomenon. If you're captivated by the dynamic interplay between sports and property, we invite you to continue the dialogue with us. Our inaugural discussion focuses on how sports clubs worldwide are adopting a fresh approach, harnessing mixed-use real estate projects to enhance revenue streams and broaden their fan base. These transformative initiatives redefine stadiums as vibrant community hubs, extending their appeal far beyond match days. Membership to the forum is tailored for individuals in authoritative positions within high-level sports or senior roles within the real estate or development sectors. If you fit this criteria, we extend a warm invitation to request to join and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to collaborate and share insights in this burgeoning alliance. Take yourself directly to the forum here - https://lnkd.in/ejwfPfKd #Sports #Football #Partnerships #RealEstate #NewDevelopments #Collaboration #SportBiz #MixedUseDevelopment #RealEstateFinance Nest Seekers International Super Prime Division #NestSeekers