Press Releases

SPARC received applications from 26 organisations for project-based investment, the vast majority of which targets future world championships, Olympic and Commonwealth Games performances.

Decisions regarding additional high performance investment directed at targeted sports are expected to be announced in early December and will be as much as $11 million. Those sports include cycling, rowing, swimming and triathlon, among others.

The contestable investment package is highlighted by a long-term commitment to New Zealand's winter sports programmes, including the increasingly popular sport of free-skiing, where New Zealand athletes are steadily climbing up the world rankings. SPARC has earmarked $2 million for the Winter Performance Project over the next four years, including $500,000 in 2007.

The package also includes a two-year, $1 million commitment to canoeing, a portion of which is targeted for specific world-class athletes, including Ben Fouhy and Steve Ferguson, among others.  Women's soccer has also received a $300,000 commitment to compete in the 2007 Women's World Cup.

The level and the terms of SPARC's investment vary from project to project, depending on the nature of the programme, performance outcomes and the project's proposed duration.

In addition to the $5.63 million SPARC has earmarked for contestable investment, approximately $3 million has been set aside for Performance Enhancement Grants, Prime Minister's Scholarships and Performance Services delivered through the New Zealand Academy of Sport, bringing the total investment in the 17 sports to $8.63 million.

Overall, SPARC is investing approximately $32 million in high performance sport in 2007, including investment in targeted sports, contestable investment, world-class athletes, Prime Minister's Scholarships, Performance Enhancement Grants and NZAS Performance Services.

The level of SPARC's investment in high performance sport has risen steadily in recent years. In 2002, SPARC invested $17 million in high performance sport. In 2007, high performance investment has increased to nearly double that amount.

The vast majority of sports that applied for high performance investment, including those whose applications were not successful, will continue to be eligible to receive SPARC investment through other channels, including Performance Enhancement Grants, sport development and other grassroots programmes, all of which are separate from SPARC's high performance investment.

An example of this is synchronised swimming. Although SPARC is not investing in a high performance programme, it has set aside $30,000 in Performance Enhancement Grants for Nina and Lisa Daniels based on their performance at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Applications for support from the contestable investment pool were judged on their relative merits and were evaluated based on the sport's ability to compete in events such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Paralympics and sport specific world championships.

"International elite sport has developed rapidly in recent decades, with more investment and higher standards of professionalism being the norm," said SPARC Chief Executive Nick Hill. "As a result, we are focusing our resources in order to build depth in results-capable sports that align with our mission.

"In some cases, these were extremely difficult decisions to make when we considered the impact on sport organisations that may not receive all of the investment they sought," added Hill. "We can certainly understand why some organisations might be disappointed but it's important to keep in mind that we provide substantial financial investment to these organisations that is separate from our high performance investment."

"One of our overriding goals is to give as many teams and as many athletes the opportunity to qualify for Beijing and for world championships. Once we know the performances from 2007, we'll be able to make our investment decisions for 2008."

2007 SPARC high performance investment for contestable applications

(Including PEGs and New Zealand Academy of Sport service credits. Note: Prime Minister's Scholarships are excluded.)

For more information contact:
Ross Palmer
Manager, Corporate Communications
SPARC (Sport & Recreation New Zealand)
DDI:   (04) 496 3978
Mobile: 021 953 349

Updated | 14 Nov 2006.

Skip page tools.

• Go to top