Press Releases
SPARC provides swimming major boost
10 Dec 2004
Swimming New Zealand received a major boost today with the announcement that SPARC will invest a minimum of $4.5 million over the next four years.
Of this, $3.2 million will be channelled into Swimming New Zealand's high performance programme through the New Zealand Academy of Sport, SPARC’s high performance network. An additional $800,000 will be available based on performance at milestone events including the 2005 and 2007 World Championships, 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Up to $1 million more will be invested in athletes through sport science and sport medicine services provided by the New Zealand Academy of Sport, Prime Minister’s Athlete and Coach Scholarships and Performance Enhancement Grants.
A total of $400,000 is tagged for sport development and organisational capability initiatives. This includes growing the sport at grass roots and developing the infrastructure of swimming.
SPARC Chief Executive Nick Hill said that the major investment reflects SPARC’s confidence in Swimming New Zealand’s ability to deliver long term results.
"There were very promising performances by young athletes with high potential at the Olympic Games. Swimming has also adopted a new strategic plan which encompasses the sport’s future growth and direction. We are confident that Swimming is on track and can deliver great results over the next four years," said Hill.
Swimming New Zealand officials are delighted with the announcement, which will go towards their major programmes including international competition, coach support, intensive training camps specifically targeted at success in pinnacle events and increasing participation.
"SPARC’s investment shows its faith in our programmes and plans for the next four years," Swimming New Zealand president John West said.
"The total plan is holistic and is geared towards sustained development throughout the swimming spectrum. Every swimmer and coach genuinely striving for significant improvement will benefit."
Swimming New Zealand Director of Coaching Clive Rushton said the sport welcomed the "at-risk" element of the additional investment in swimming.
"Our high performance plans are being supported by the Academy with core investment. If we demonstrate we are achieving agreed milestones we will benefit from further investment. Every competitive person can live with that and should embrace it as a real incentive and challenge," Rushton said.
"We have been closing the gap on the world at a reasonable pace for the past three years. Now is the time to start to leap-frog some of the opposition."
Athens Olympic head coach Jan Cameron said the investment is a major positive step for swimming.
"We now have the swimmers and the tools to move significantly into the international arena. Having the opportunity to compete internationally on a more regular basis will enable us to enhance our international ranking."
Updated | 30 Mar 2006.
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