Stoke-on-trent sport and physical activity strategy 2009-2016

on-Trent strives to achieve. The mass participation work in sport and activityneeds to be balanced with the ‘top end’, the Performance and Excellencestrand, with the City supporting those with talent to excel.8. Sports events encourage and excite people, and there is a real opportunity for<strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent to raise its profile through hosting national sports events suchas the Tour of Britain, an international class cycle race. There are also a fastgrowing number of high level events taking place at some of the larger sportsfacilities in the City, such as Fenton Manor. More local and regional eventsare however just as important, providing a goal and purpose to many people’sregular activity.9. The 2012 Olympics will provide a unique incentive for everyone to becomemore active. The Strategy will help to make sure that the opportunities arecapitalised upon, and that the legacy of the Games is a more pervasiveculture of activity, in sport and as part of a generally more active lifestyle. Theimplications of Fenton Manor potentially hosting an Olympic team as a pre-Games training camp are currently being evaluated.10. The policies underpinning these first aims, which will provide the rationalebehind facility investment are as follows:Policy: Focus on increasing participation in sport and active recreation. Aim toincrease the number of people being active to 30% by 2012 and encourage a 1%increase in participation each year.This will be achieved by:• Strengthening the emerging cross-sector partnership of agencies andorganisations;• Improving the effectiveness of the message about the health benefits ofphysical activity and sport;• Strengthening the outreach programmes at the local level;• Supporting local organisations and groups;• Reviewing pricing policies;• Encouraging young people to stay involved in sport after school;• Using some developers’ contributions for revenue.Policy: Seek to support talented groups and individuals and enable them toexcel.Policy: Strive to host major high-level sporting events.This will be achieved by:• Ensuring pathways to performance are strong;• Improving the City’s ability to attract sporting events;Nortoft Partnerships Ltd <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent Page | 6Sport & Physical Activity Strategy 2009 – 2016October 2009