Latest news with #grassroots
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Euro 2028 gets big cash boost from government
The government has announced a £900m investment in British sport for the four-year period from 2025/26 to 2028/29. The funding package includes £500m dedicated to hosting major global sporting events and £400m for developing grassroots sports facilities. Notable events slated for government backing are the 2027 Tour de France, Euro 2028, and the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The investment aims to stimulate economic growth, with Euro 2028 alone anticipated to generate a £2.5bn economic boost across the UK. The grassroots funding will support local sports clubs in building and improving facilities, fostering community participation and developing future athletes.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Major sporting events and grassroots sport to receive £900 million funding
More than £900 million will be committed to major sporting events and grassroots sport across the UK in a 'transformational investment' over the coming years, the Government has announced. Euro 2028, the European Athletics Championships next year and the men's and women's Tour de France Grand Departs in 2027 are among the key events set to be hosted in the country that will benefit from more than half a billion pounds in funding. At least £400 million will also be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities nationwide after the funding was outlined in last week's Spending Review, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said. England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will be co-hosting Euro 2028, with the showpiece men's football tournament expected to generate up to £2.4 billion in socio-economic value alone, the DCMS said. Other major events scheduled to be held in the UK include the women's Rugby World Cup in England this summer, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Invictus Games, founded by the Duke of Sussex, in Birmingham in 2027. Earlier this month, more than 100 athletes called on the Prime Minister to support a London bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships. But the Government is yet to commit to the bid, but has not ruled it our either, with a spokesperson saying it was working with UK Sport to secure a series of major sporting events up until 2035. However, the DCMS confirmed that work was continuing to develop a bid for the UK to host the women's Fifa World Cup in 2035. Sporting bodies and local leaders for grassroots initiatives will work closely with the department to establish what each community needs before further plans are laid out. It said the investment will not only help create jobs and boost regional prosperity, but would also reduce barriers to opportunity and 'bring communities together through shared national moments'. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can, uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage. 'This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our plan for change. 'Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK.' The announcement comes after Ms Nandy previously pledged £100 million to upgrade sports facilities across the UK, including new and improved pitches, changing rooms, goalposts and floodlights, back in March. Nick Webborn, chairman of UK Sport, praised the new funding as having 'huge potential to drive economic growth, bring people together and inspire the next generation'. He said: 'We believe that live sport is a fundamental part of this country's social fabric. 'We are really excited to be working with the Government and support their commitment to secure the pipeline of big events beyond 2028 to ensure we can continue to reach, inspire and unite people in every corner of the country.' Stuart Andrew, the Conservative shadow culture secretary, said: 'Funding for major sporting events and grassroots sport is welcome – but the spending review was no boon for British sports. 'Rachel Reeves' tax hikes are forcing schools to sell playing fields and driving up business rates for stadiums. 'At the same time, Labour have scrapped the Opening Schools Facilities fund and the National Citizen Service – depriving young people of sporting opportunities. 'Labour must recognise that their economic mismanagement is dealing a devasting blow to the sports sector.'
ABC News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Feature Video: BOY SODA - Blink Twice
This week's Feature Video takes a twenty dollar sheet and squeezes it for every cent in this textural, movement-driven music video from Eora based R'n'B artist BOY SODA, 'Blink Twice'. Skeleton staff and a penny-pinching budget means nothing in the face of raw talent and a great collab, as proven by BOY SODA and 'Blink Twice' director Adam Saunders. Armed with a few reference images and a great track, the team set to work in visualising a clip that uses classic design elements (think movement, lighting, texture, colour and composition) to effortlessly punctuate BOY SODA's effortless panache. 'BOY SODA came to my studio with a handful of reference images that were really speaking to him, and from there, my job was to elevate and bring them to life' explains director Adam. 'We picked up a twenty dollar sheet from Spotlight and some plastic from Bunnings. Forty dollars in props all up and those sheet shots ended up coming together even better than we could've imagined. It was a true grassroots effort with a skeleton crew and help from local friends and artists.' 'I was really intent on incorporating movement into these shots whether it be through fabric playing with the wind or light revealing parts of my face, and wanted to deliver cinematic moments to accompany the music' adds BOY SODA. 'The song is about staying connected and grounded, that's how we made these visuals, with a crew of lovely and dedicated people who went above and beyond to pull together some really special moments that feel undeniable and as rich as the music.'
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Government pledges £900m for sports events & facilities
The government has pledged to spend £900m on major sporting events and grassroots facilities across the UK as part of a "transformational" than £0.5bn of the money will be used to support the delivery of "a pipeline of major international events", including Euro 2028, which will be hosted in the UK and 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the Grand Departs of the men's and women's Tour de France cycling races in 2027 will also those events had already received government backing, along with a proposed UK bid to host the women's football World Cup in 2035, which the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is continuing to work on with the home nations football the government is yet to decide whether to support London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with more than 100 of Britain's most renowned athletes urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to do so earlier this Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can – uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage."This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country. Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK. " In March, the former chair of funding agency UK Sport Dame Katherine Grainger told BBC Sport that it was "frustrating" that Britain was not staging more major events over the next decade, warning of "a big gap". Her successor Nick Webborn said: "We welcome the government's ongoing commitment to hosting the Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes and Euro 2028…and support their commitment to secure the pipeline of big events beyond 2028 to ensure we can continue to reach, inspire and unite people in every corner of the country."Britain is hosting the women's rugby union World Cup in England this year, along with the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but the government is not believed to be backing any bids for golf's Ryder Cup or Solheim part of the funding commitment, the DCMS says that a minimum of £400m will also be invested over the next four years into new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities "that promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion".On Thursday the government announced plans for a new School Sport Partnerships and Enrichment Framework for schools to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "We are grateful to the government for listening and responding so comprehensively to our sector's united call for a reimagined approach to PE and school sport. This will be an amazing boost to those who work so tirelessly, often against the odds, in PE and school sport."Children's activity levels have been too low for too long. We welcome the government seeking to harness the vast potential of play and sport to change this."
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
DCMS announces £900m funding for grassroots sport and major events including Euros and Tour de France
The government has announced £900m of investment in British sport, with £500m going towards hosting global events and £400m allocated to grassroots facilities. The list of events in line for major government backing include the 2027 Tour de France, which will see the men's race begin in Edinburgh and take in Wales and England en route; Euro 2028, played out across the four home nations and Ireland; and the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The government expects the men's Euros alone to generate a £2.5bn economic boost across the UK. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport secretary Lisa Nandy said: 'This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our Plan for Change. 'Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK.' The grassroots funding is designed to support local sports clubs to build new pitches, changing rooms, floodlights and other facilities for communities across the country. Chris Boardman, chair of Sport England said: 'The government's continued investment into grassroots sport facilities is welcome news; the nation's pitches, pools and leisure centres play a pivotal role in keeping people moving. 'With every £1 invested in community sport and physical activity generating £4.20 in value for our economy, supporting grassroots facilities isn't just good for public health — it's a smart investment in the nation's social and economic wellbeing.' Funding for the DCMS, which covers the four-year period from 2025/26 up to 2028/29, was outlined in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review last week. Total spending at the department will be reduced by 1.4 per cent over the review period compared to the previous four years.
