(Banffshire and Buchan
Coast) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what action
it is taking to support and encourage young people to engage in
sport.
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Aileen
Campbell): The Scottish Government strongly encourages
people of all ages and backgrounds to try to participate in
sport. To aid with that, we have protected
SportScotland's
budget for next year, committed to help mitigate the impact of
continued reductions in its income from the national lottery,
invested up to £50 million for our active schools programme
between 2015 and 2019 and committed to increase the number of
community sport hubs.
I want to take the opportunity to
pay tribute to the achievements of team Scotland during the
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth games. I am sure that everyone
will agree. Following the success of team Scotland, I am
confident that the performances by all our athletes will
inspire young people to take up sport, allowing them to set and
achieve their goals.
: I particularly
welcome the fact that a member of team Scotland was older than
me. That is pretty unusual.
More seriously, I recently visited
Cullen bowling and tennis club, where the members have taken on
offering coaching sessions to young people to encourage a new
generation of club members. Does the minister agree that that
is an excellent example of a community-based approach to
encouraging our youngsters to try new sports?
: I would also like
to pay tribute to the athleticism of .
That is a great example of
encouraging young people to join a club. I wish Cullen bowling
and tennis club every success. Our commitment to the active
schools programme will not only allow children to try new
sports but will provide them with a pathway to local sports
clubs. I actively encourage that partnership.
I commend the club in Cullen,
particularly during this year of young people, for its
endeavours to get our young people and children active.
