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ISSUE 19 | NOV 2014
THE
LIFEBLOOD
OF SPORT
Who do you think are the real unsung heroes of
sport? Who are the people who deserve our thanks
and admiration for their dedication and commitment
to sport; the people who work tirelessly for their
sport and without whom there would be no sport?
Is it the coaches who get the most from their players and
teams and produce champions? Perhaps you think it’s the
midfield dynamos who run and harry and do the hard graft to
enable the stars in the team to display their skills and shine?
Or perhaps it is the paid umpires and referees that so often
get a raw deal and are the subject of abuse by fans and those
on the touchline each week?
No, all of these are deserving and make a significant
contribution to sport. But the real unsung heroes of sport are
the millions of volunteers that turn out week in, week out for
their local club or put their hands up to assist at the event
that is being held. Without these individuals there would be
no sport. These are the people who organise matches, coach
and manage teams and make sure the players turn up at the
right venue and on time, wash the kit or direct the crowd, or
do the hundreds of other tasks that mean that the local club
can operate or the national or international event can be
staged. They are the true lifeblood of sport.
At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games a record 50,811
people came forward to offer their services as part the
volunteer force of 15,000 that was required. A similar number
of volunteers will be required for the Gold Coast Games in
2018, and there will be no shortage of applications. However,
even this number pales into insignificance when the total
volunteer population for sport is taken into account.
The UK Community Life Survey for 2013 -2014 showed that
41% of people questioned in England reported volunteering
at least once a year and 27% said they took part at least once
a month. This equates to an estimated 12.7 million people
volunteering in England once a month and 19.2 million
once a year. The most popular sectors for volunteers are
sport/exercise where 53% of those who volunteer work and
hobbies/recreation/social clubs with 42%.
The estimated economic value of sports volunteering in
England is just under £2 billion a year – this is what it would
cost to employ full-time workers to carry out the work of
sports volunteers, based on the median hourly wage.
These are staggering figures and these kind of statistics are
replicated around the world. Sport would simply not exist in
many places if there were no willing volunteers. Volunteers
create and sustain sports clubs and associations and make
national and international events work. In short, they make a
vital contribution to the needs of the community.
But whilst we need to recognise the tremendous value of
EDITOR’S
NOTE
STEVE BOUCHER