COUNTY SPORTS PROMOTION AND EFFORTS Hon. Ali Hassan Joho - Governor Mombasa. There is need to ensure better co-ordination of effort and resources in sport and to explore the ways to involve private and public sectors together in rejuvenating Mombasa county Sports. You have to listen to the views of stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Sport plays a valuable role in society. The county government has recently made good progress in refurbishing the Mombasa county stadium, although there is still room for improvement. Whilst the private sector generally recognises sport as an attractive platform for marketing, companies are reluctant to invest significant sums of money – especially at grass roots level – to a sector that is at least partially lacking in commercial orientation and effective management. There is, however, an appetite for additional corporate sponsorship accompanied by clear guidance, an understanding of the business needs of sponsors and a well co-ordinated county campaign for sport, as is the case in developed countries. At the operational level, private sector providers are keen to maintain and expand their investment, as long as they are not penalised by county planning guidelines or a lack of transparency in contract tendering. Together with the re-establishment of a voice for sport at county government level, this private sector investment could help to renew and refinance the current ageing and under developed facilities to ensure equality of access and participation across the county. Some of the key areas for consideration are; 1.Create, under a strong county leadership, a single access point and brand for sport in Mombasa County. Mombasa County currently has no branding for sports activities. Enforce this brand to be included and used in all sporting events and activities. 2.Provide targeted incentives and commercial assistance to encourage individual and corporate support and to ‘help sport help itself’ 3.Give local investors naming rights and let them develop some of the grounds around Mombasa County into stadiums , basketball quotes of international standards, swimming pools etc. 4.Utilize the cash raised from these naming rights deals in robust efforts to promote sports all year round. 5.Using the sport brand for Mombasa, bid to host national and regional tournaments. 6.Strike deals on how the gate charges revenues are going to be shared between the county government and the investor, woe the private sector using incentives. Those areas represent the next stage of the journey for sports and will build upon the momentum already achieved. In addition, innovative capital and revenue funding schemes working with the public, private and voluntary sectors could enable the county to continue with reform programs and ensure that, at all levels, we are fit for purpose . Sport is good for public health, for communities and for national identity. The sector depends in no small measure on the good will and involvement of volunteers and commercial investors whose continued commitment will in part be predicated on our getting the next steps right. There is a significant prize to be won and can be achieved in less than two years with proper guidelines, professionalism and commitment from the county government. Kind Regards, MCGW
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:04:25 +0000
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