At the Scottish Conservative Conference the Scottish Sports Alliance’s VoteforSport Pledge received a host of new supporters as Mark Brown joined fellow Conservative MSPs and PPCs in signing up to the Pledge.
The campaign was launched on September 21 with the support of Margo MacDonald MSP and Rhona Martin MBE.
The VoteforSport campaign is designed to raise the profile of sport throughout the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in 2011. The campaign will encourage MSPs and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) to pledge to the following statement;
“I pledge to recognise the unique role, value and potential of sport in Scottish society and upon my election to the Scottish Parliament I will act as a Scottish Sporting Champion throughout my term in Parliament.”
After signing the VoteforSport pledge Mark Brown stated “I’m delighted to sign up for this fantastic campaign. As someone who has spent half my life involved in grassroots rugby and cricket - both playing and as an office bearer, I truly understand exactly what part sport has in shaping our Nation.
Scottish Sports Association Board Member & former Scotland Rugby International Scott Hastings commented that “if this campaign is to succeed we need to encourage sport in all areas of society and recognise the huge impact that sport has on our nation. There are many things that need to be done but having sport on the political agenda could significantly benefit the health of our country whilst promoting Scotland’s sporting profile.
“2011 is a huge opportunity for all those involved in sport, from the local community clubs up to the highest stage to promote sport as a campaign issue. I urge everyone who plays, spectates or just loves sport to log on to www.VoteforSport.com and pledge their support to show Scotland truly cares about sport.
“My vision is to see every school child playing sport in Scotland on a regular basis every week and that sport is accepted as part of Scotland’s future well being.”
Scottish Conservative Party Leader Annabel Goldie signed up to VoteforSport on behalf of the whole Conservative Party in November:
"I warmly congratulate the Scottish Sports Alliance for producing this sports manifesto and for all the hard work they have undertaken in encouraging Scotland to get fit.
“A healthier, fitter Scotland is essential to secure a positive and productive future for our country. Existing problems with the lack of Scots taking exercise and looking after themselves are largely cultural, so it is through tackling this culture that we will see results.
“Improving the fitness of the nation will be right at the heart of the Scottish Conservative manifesto for the Holyrood elections in May 2011 and that is why our MSPs are signing the VoteforSport pledge.”
Deputy Party Leader, Murdo Fraser commented:
“I am a strong supporter of the Scottish Sports Alliance’s VoteforSport Pledge and campaign.
“We must raise the profile of sport in our schools and get everyone in Scotland more active and involved in sport. Sport and getting people more active will be at the centre of the Scottish Conservative manifesto for next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.”
Brian McKelvie, Chair of the Scottish Sports Association, stated, “the campaign has been received very positively and it’s great to see such a demonstration of support for sport here at the Conservative Conference”.
The campaign will not only encourage MSPs and PPCs to sign the Pledge but will also utilise the power of the some 900,000 men and women who take part in sport through the 12,000 sports clubs in Scotland. Policy Director of the Scottish Sports Association, Kim Atkinson highlighted that “sport is undoubtedly Scotland’s greatest social movement; with 1 in 5 people in Scotland a member of one of our 12,000 sports clubs. VoteforSport will give this constituency a voice for the first time in Scottish elections.”
Editorial:
The Scottish Sports Alliance is the collective voice of the Scottish Sports Association, Scottish Universities Sport and the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils. Collectively the three organisations represent 54 Governing Bodies of Sport; 18 Associate Sporting Organisations; 55 Local Sports Councils; 16 Scottish Universities encompassing 150,000 regular volunteers, 12,000 sports clubs and 900,000 men and woman who regularly participate in sport in Scotland.
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